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==========================================================================
 ************
Topic 2         Mon Oct 18, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 07:58 EDT
Sub: Storm (at last!)

Storm will finally be released, as shareware. This is the program you have all
been waiting for!
211 message(s) total.
 ************
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 1         Mon Oct 18, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 08:05 EDT

As many people are aware, I had arranged with Double-Click software to write a
new telecommunications program to be called Storm. Due to a variety of
circumstances, the program was never finished, though it had progressed to
beta testing.

I have decided to release Storm as shareware. I realize that there are
companies out there that would be happy to publish it commercially, but I have
a full-time job and it would take too long to completely finish the program
and manual. Mike Vederman has been kind enough to permit me to release the
program as shareware and also to allow me to use the Storm name and logo. Mike
and I are still on very good terms.

The program is fully functional, except for a few minor features. Current
documentation consists of a couple of text files, one on the Basic, one on the
program itself. I have not disabled any features for the shareware version and
there are no annoying messages nagging users about shareware registration.

I will be distributing the final beta test version to beta testers shortly.
Once it has been tested, the shareware package will be released. I hope this
will be in a week or two.

I have had access to a Falcon, so the program is definitely Falcon compatible,
as well as MultiTOS, and TT compatible. It has been tried out on a variety of
video cards, including full-color TT video cards and appears to work with all
of them.

The suggested shareware fee will be $25. That is either Canadian or U.S. $.
(This is to encourage U.S. registrants to purchase Canadian money orders.)
Shareware registrants will receive printed documentation and an enhanced
version of the program in the first quarter of 1994. While I will attempt to
fix any serious bugs in the unregistered version, I will not be adding any new
features to it. I will be adding features to the registered shareware version
and writing improved documentation for it.

I will be supporting Storm on both CompuServe and Genie. I do not wish to
become involved in any of the battles that occasionally erupt between users of
the various online services. I will upload the software to both services on
the same day, and it will be up to the sysops when it will become available
for download.

 - Alan Page

All beta testers are released from non-disclosure regarding Storm features,
though I hope they will check out the final beta version (available in a day
or so) before commenting, because there have been a number of changes and
fixes.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 2         Mon Oct 18, 1993
AEO.MAG [!] FSU #1 [!]       at 09:17 EDT

Alan,

That's great! I hope to see STorm soon.

--Travis
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Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 3         Mon Oct 18, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 18:25 EDT

Alan,

As a BIG fan of yours from the earliest days of Flash (and the author of
Secrets of Flash, in which I discovered some amazing little feats that Flash
will accomplish), I'm real glad you're doing this. And Mike V. is doing that
right thing, too.

Al

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Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 4         Mon Oct 18, 1993
EXPLORER.1 [] Ron []         at 21:55 EDT


  Great news Alan, I can't wait to see Storm!

         -- Ron

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Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 5         Mon Oct 18, 1993
R.WATSON15 [Wayne Watson]    at 22:26 EDT

Alan,
  Thanks for releasing Storm. I am sorry to hear that things did not turn out
like you wanted. I know Storm will be a very nice telecom. program.

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 6         Tue Oct 19, 1993
D.BOWMAN9 [>>dave b<<]       at 01:10 EDT

Alan,

Glad to see that the program will not be lost in the ozone. thanks for the
decision to offer it as shareware.  I have gotten three of my telecomm
programs via Shareware.

later, dave b
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 7         Tue Oct 19, 1993
S.GARRIGUS [Scotty]          at 20:11 EDT

Alan,

I'm really sorry to hear your plans for Storm didn't work out.  I know how
that can be.  But I'm glad your releasing it as Shareware and hopefully you'll
recoupe some of your loses...

Thanks for supporting Atari users!

 Scotty
 SRG Music & Software


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 8         Wed Oct 20, 1993
MUSE [Tomas]                 at 01:47 EDT

Alan,
 This is really great news and I think it's a noble gesture to release Storm
in this way.  I'd been looking forward to this program for many months and was
quite sure we'd never actually get to see it. From what I've heard, Storm is
really gonna kick up some dust!  <g>

 ===Tomas===

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 9         Fri Oct 22, 1993
D.CHARTER [Duane]            at 20:40 EDT

Alan,

  Thanks for releasing STorm.  While it's too bad you couldn't go commercial,
the release of STorm is really great.   Send your address with the next Beta
version.  I will gladly send the shareware fee requested -- it is worth it.


Everybody,
  Wait until you see STorm work.  I think it is the best terminal program I
have used.

Duane


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 10        Fri Oct 22, 1993
S.LYSTER [Stu Lyster]        at 23:25 EDT

For STorm to be a good communications program, it will have to compete with
Alan Page's other masterpiece (for its time) Flash 1.6.

1.6 is my Commprogram of choice - with Alan Hamilton's XYZ.TTP attached to a
coupl'a function keys, it is better, in my books, than FLASH II - except,
maybe, for the ANSI.

Thanks, Al, for a wonderful Comm package.  If STorm is as good as Flash 1.6,
you'll be seeing my Shareware fee...

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 11        Sat Oct 23, 1993
W.ORTIZ [Will]               at 07:43 EDT

  hehe...

   This is the first time since I was a kid that I've been looking forward to
The Storm....Is it going to blow us away! <ducking>

                                        Will
                                        W.ORTIZ


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Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 12        Sat Oct 23, 1993
JIM.K [Jim~ST Sysop]         at 10:39 EDT

Stu,

You won't be disappointed!

 Jim Kudron
 <ST Sysop>
 23Oct93
 10:16:08

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 13        Sun Oct 24, 1993
M.EASTER [Mike]              at 00:11 EDT

I logged on to put a message in the Flash (I) topic, but it was gone!

I hunted and found the Flash II topic in another category, but somehow it just
didn't seem like it belonged there :-)

I considered starting a new topic and letting the sysop figure out what to do
with the topic and the message, but that didn't seem quite right either.

And then I found the Storm topic.

There are lots of Flash, the original, fans and fans of Alan Page.  Hopefully
he won't mind if my message appears here.  I'm sure the old Flash fans will
appear when they find this topic.  I'm going to mention its existence in cat
1.

Looking forward to Storm!  Now the Flash message.

Does anyone know if there is a command (in "Flash language") that will call
the file selector the same way it is called with alt-f?

The file selector is called by a number of Flash commands to facilitate their
completion, but I know of no command that exactly equals alt-f (gets selector
only, no action).  What I'm doing works ok without such a command, but it
seems as if there should be one.

After appreciating the nifty way I can verbose and decompress to folders at
the desktop with Applier as an installed prg, I decided I wanted to do the
same thing while inside Flash.  Many less keystrokes and mouse clicks than
when using a shell, and the shells have some deficiencies for zip jr and lharc
2.30

I've built a bank (def file) of function keys which enable me to do verbosing
or decompression to a folder with Zip Jr 2.3 (Pomey) and Lharc 2.30
(Grunenberg).  A function key sets up for string input and I use the alt-f
function to click the filename to provide to the string.  I use other strings
to define the ttp names and their paths to save space on the function key
definition lines (30 spaces) for the commands that are passed to them.  One
key defines all the string variables that are constant.  No do files are used.

The other duty that arc_util.def function key definition file can do is re-
compress a folderfull (created by the above utilities) into an lh1 archive.  I
(with a function key) display a directory of the folders only on the screen
(ddir F:\*. <-note the space), followed by a query for the foldername.  When I
input it from the keyboard, it becomes a string which is passed to the
compressing program to make into a filename and compress the contents of the
folder (named by the string).

Kinda crazy, eh?

Mike Easter  (Don't ask why lh1!)
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 14        Sun Oct 24, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 03:23 EDT

Mike,

No, not crazy at all! I used Flash as a shell for all my work on the ST many
years ago, and had reams of fkeys and do scripts for the same sort of thing
you are doing. flash is not a program; it's an institution. (And we all hope
Storm keeps up the momentum, of course!)

Flash still runs while I am asleep, doing more than just telecomm chores. I
have automatic archiving that goes on each night, for oen thing.

I don't know of a way to do what you want via the item selector (calling it
for no specific reason). As you know, the selector will come up when you issue
a command, via a script or from an fkey, that is not completed; CD by itself,
for example, will pop open the fisel. ("Pop open the fisel?" Did I actually
write that?) But there are ways to input text into a script, and so on.
"Secrets of Flash" covers some of this.

Al

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Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 15        Sun Oct 24, 1993
STEPHENSON [Bob in ABQ]      at 19:07 EDT

Al,

   What is "Secrets of Flash"?

      Bob in Albuquerque

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Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 16        Sun Oct 24, 1993
J.TRAUTSCHOL [jtrautschold]  at 23:11 EDT

Mike...

It's strange, isn't it, how fate turns out.  Cat 8 Topic 2 used to be the old
Flash II topic.  It was moved to Cat 25 when Darlah gratiously agreed to open
a new Category specifically for Missionware Software product support.  It
really does make more sense to do Flash II support there then here since it's
a Missionware Product.

And now Storm, a competitor, takes our old topic here...  How interesting!

Anyway, to answer your question, F2 supports calling the File Selector with
the FSel command.  This operates the same way as Alt-F does.

Anyway, we encourage you to post your F2 specific questions over in Cat 25
Topic 3.  Thanks.

                                                John Trautschold
                                              Missionware Software

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 17        Mon Oct 25, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 03:26 EDT

Secrets of Flash is a long work that documents Flash's commands and gives
details on every single darned one of them, with a lot of stuff that was
unknown before. It's here; search under the keyword FLASH.

Al

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 18        Mon Oct 25, 1993
DARLAH [RT~SYSOP]            at 21:57 EDT

John:

What topic you end up with depends on what the 1st slot is. I forgot which
topic was the old Flash II topic. Guess that means no new topics in this
category since we moved it.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 19        Tue Oct 26, 1993
J.TRAUTSCHOL [jtrautschold]  at 22:22 EDT

Oh yea Darlah, I know that!  It just seemed kinda funny how things worked out
in that regard.  :-)

                                                John T.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 20        Wed Oct 27, 1993
GRMEYER [Gordon/Sysop]       at 00:18 EDT

Wait 'till you see the script language (Storm BASIC) that Alan has
implemented.  If you have any BASIC experience you'll be writing scripts in no
time at all.  The old Flash "do" language has a lot of fans, but give Storm
BASIC a chance and you'll be amazed at what it'll do.


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 21        Wed Oct 27, 1993
R.WHITTAM [Ron - ABUG]       at 01:10 EDT

Hmmmmmm, I wonder if one could use StormBASIC to create a simple BBS or host
mode for the terminal program. . .like ProComm's language does on the DOS
machines???   When I get Storm, I try something.

OK.  Where do I get Storm?  ONLINE?  or is there an address to write to?
(maybe I missed this in an earlier post).

 Ron - ABUG
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 22        Wed Oct 27, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 05:05 EDT

 Storm Basic has a FSEL$ command to call the file selector. FSEL$("","") uses
default path and no intial name. FSEL$("","file.me") sets the initial name in
the file selector to FILE.ME. The first parameter to FSEL$ is used to set the
path and/or wildcard spec. If you hit cancel or there is an empty filename,
FSEL$ returns an empty string.
 Storm Basic is VERY powerful and complete. I am sure many of the old-timers
here remember the original ELIZA Basic program. ELIZA was a computerized
'therapist' which asked questions and replied to you according to how you
replied. Well, I dug up an old copy of ELIZA.BAS and Storm Basic had no
problems running it.
 - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 23        Wed Oct 27, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 07:47 EDT

Ron,

You can create a BBS in Flash. I've done it. The DO language is actually
exceptionally powerful, whether used with Flash or Flash II.

As for host mode, that's a piece of pie. (I'd say "piece of cake," but I'm on
a diet.)

Storm will be released online shortly.

Al

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 24        Wed Oct 27, 1993
POTECHIN [Nathan @ DMC]      at 09:48 EDT

Storm has not yet been released. Alan indicated that he was cleaning up a few
last minute irritants that had been encountered and even adding a few more
features. It should be uploaded any day now though.

Let's see. I now own Flash, Flash II and Stalker. I even own a program called
Telex on the "other" computer. Methinks I need to make up my mind or
something. ;-) And yes, we are beta testing Storm in the Potechin household.
My wife has some small working knowledge of these kinds of programs. :-)

Now if Atari was only selling a few more thousand computers a week, we'd all
be a great deal happier with life in general. :-)

Nathan Potechin - DMC Publishing
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 25        Wed Oct 27, 1993
S.LYSTER [Stu Lyster]        at 10:52 EDT

Re: Al Fasoldt and his love affair with Flash 1.6....

This borders on confused ego-boundaries!  Al has taken to Flash 1.6 like Romeo
to Juliet... like McCarther to the Phillippines... like jelly to a piece of
toast.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 26        Wed Oct 27, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 20:45 EDT

  Storm has string variables, even string arrays, up to two dimensional
arrays. Each individual string can be up to 64K long if needed. I also threw
in practically every string function I could find. e.g. LEFT$, MID$, RIGHT$,
UCASE$, LCASE$, STR$, LTRIM$, RTRIM$, INSTR, and a new one I invented myself
called REPLACE$.
  In Basic, replacing a portion of a string with a shorter or longer string is
a pain. You need complicated LEFT$ + MID$ + RIGHT$ statements. REPLACE$ lets
you replace any portion of a string with another string in one simple command.
  As you can see, Storm Basic can do everything the old Flash commands could
do, and then some. For example, if you write a BBS you might want to take some
action if you lose carrier. In Storm, you do this:
 ON CARRIER (0) gosub LostIt
 CARRIER ON:'enable the event trap.
  Whenever carrier is dropped, the script jumps to the subroutine at LostIt to
take the appropriate action. You can also have a timer event trap. e.g. On
Timer(6) gosub Tick:Timer ON  will jump to the 'Tick' subroutine every six
seconds. You can even have the timer AND carrier events active at the same
time while the main script is running.
  Nevertheless, I have retained a lot of Flash commands in Storm, with minor
changes required for Basic syntax. These include:
 ALERT, BAUD, CAPTURE ON, CAPTURE OFF, CAPTURE /, DPATH, DUPLEX ON|OFF|/, END,
EXEC, GEM, KILL, LFEEDS ON|OFF|/, LOAD CAPTURE, LOG, PAUSE, DIR, PARITY,
RUBOUT, SAVE CAPTURE, SEND, SBITS, STRIP, TYPE, and WAIT.
 - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 27        Wed Oct 27, 1993
L.WHITE17 [Lorne]            at 23:38 EDT

I haven't gotten caught up in what the program is all about. I'm fed up with
Stealth and it's limitations; especially with working in MultiTos.  Could you
send me some into on the program. I've been considering Flash II and Stalker.
Please give me an idea what more I can get with Storm.  Unfortunately I fell
for the Stealth line, and the support is all but gone.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 28        Thu Oct 28, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 06:06 EDT

Yes, Alan, I remember Eliza well. I first encountered Eliza in its Atari 8-bit
incarnation.

Al

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 29        Thu Oct 28, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 08:52 EDT

Stu,

... Now they're eating humble pie, do-wah.

Aal

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 30        Fri Oct 29, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 01:26 EDT

  Storm is both MultiTOS compatible, and MultiTOS friendly. By that I mean
that it allocates and releases memory as required and I tried to follow all
the GEM programming guidelines. Also, Storm works on the MegaSTE, TT, and
Falcon serial ports. It has been tried on a variety of video cards, right up
to 24-bit cards with no problems.
 Storm has a terminal in a window, with 24 lines of 80 characters, plus a menu
bar and typeahead. There is a separate capture buffer window which is
resizable, movable, and scrollable. In fact, you can have as many editor
windows open as GEM will allow you to have.
  There is also a separate Basic window, for running Basic, though you do not
have to have it open to run a Basic program.
  When you are in Basic or the capture buffer or an editor window, the
terminal window remains active. In fact, you can even close the terminal
window and continue capturing to the capture buffer. This is useful for high-
speed operation.
  The capture buffer and editor window actually use the IBM graphics character
set, so if you capture stuff with line-drawing characters, you can see them in
the capture buffer. Again, this is completely compatible with MultiTOS and
large-screen monitors.
  Storm Basic is a very complete Basic interpreter. I have even written a
Basic program that records prompts and responses and writes out a simple
script that waits for the prompts and sends the appropriate response.
  The Storm editor has full dynamic word-wrap and reformats paragraphs as you
type. You can mouse-select text and the window scrolls up or down
automatically as the mouse goes past the top or bottom.
  You can even select text from the terminal screen with the mouse.
  Current file transfers include BPlus, Xmodem, Ymodem and Zmodem. Terminal
emulations include VT100, and Vidtex. VT100 includes the graphics characters,
double-width, and double-height, as well as underline, bold, and reverse.
Blinking text is represented as 'disabled' grey text.
  Practially any key that is not already assigned a function can be programmed
as a macro. e.g. you can program macros to a control character, but it will
only be active in an editor window, because the terminal window is smart
enough to know that control characters are required for terminal operation.
  - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 31        Fri Oct 29, 1993
M.EASTER [Mike]              at 05:15 EDT

 >   When you are in Basic or the capture buffer or an editor
 > window, the terminal window remains active. In fact, you can even
 > close the terminal window and continue capturing to the capture
 > buffer. This is useful for high-speed operation.

Does this mean you can have background down/uploading via terminal while
working in basic or capture/editor in all modes, including Z?

Memory requirements?
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 32        Fri Oct 29, 1993
J.BATTEY1 [J. L. Battey]     at 20:40 EDT

Al,

 >As for host mode, that's a piece of pie. (I'd say "piece of cake," but I'm
on
 >a diet.)

Stick with cake, fewer of the calories come from fat.  Pie crust has loads
other saturated fat in it.


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 33        Sat Oct 30, 1993
L.MAZZERI [Cybey]            at 02:26 EDT

Would Storm run on my ATARI MEGA ST 2?



                                        cyBey

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 34        Sat Oct 30, 1993
M.SQUIRE [Mike]              at 07:47 EDT

Alan,

     Will Storm support Ymodem-G and allow for selection of RTS/CTS
 flow control?

 ... Mike Squire

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 35        Sat Oct 30, 1993
S.GARRIGUS [Scotty]          at 15:42 EDT

Alan,

Wow!  Sounds like Storm can do just about anything! I think your going to
spoil us with all those features.  You know that a user is never satisfied.
We just keep wanting more and more and more... <g>

 Scotty
 SRG Music & Software

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 36        Sat Oct 30, 1993
JIM.K [Jim~ST Sysop]         at 18:34 EDT

Mike Squire,

Yes, Storm supports Ymodem-G and RTS/CTS.

 Jim Kudron
 <ST Sysop>
 30Oct93
 14:33:36

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 37        Sat Oct 30, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 23:02 EDT

 Yes, there is background file transfer. Not the reset-proof type as in
Shadow, etc, but better than the ones that rely completely on GEM's meagre
multi-tasking. Believe it or not, my file transfers do most of their work in a
vertical blank interrupt. They fill a 64K memory buffer, which gets transfered
to disk by the main program.
  A strange but very workable solution that does not rely on hooking into the
actual serial port interrupts themselves. Works under MultiTOS as well, though
the program protection must be set to "Super". (I set it each time I recompile
since I am using MultiTOS on a TT at the moment.)
   File transfer progress is displayed in a GEM window, not a dialog, so you
can switch to any other program window (or even another program under
MultiTOS) without difficulty.
  Zmodem works as well, though I may have to tweak the timing for high-speed
modems a bit.
  Storm runs on an original ST, MegaSTE, TT, and Falcon. All TT, MegaSTE and
Falcon serial ports are supported. Reliable CTS/RTS flow control requires that
you have one of the serial patch programs, e.g. BPENNER's SERIALFX 2.0 is
recommended. I do not steal the serial port interrupts, so it is up to a patch
program to fix the flow control problems that existed in many versions of TOS.
  - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 38        Sun Oct 31, 1993
J.HURLEY1 [Jim Hurley]       at 17:22 EST

The Secrets of Flash file that Al mentioned is file #22779 "FLASDOC.LZH".

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 39        Tue Nov 02, 1993
R.WHITTAM [Ron - ABUG]       at 01:33 EST

Alan - We discussed terminal programs at our Atari Boise Users Group meeting
tonight.  After sharing what I have read here about storm, one of the members
asked "what is the price?"  OK, you are distributing it via Shareware, but
what is the price if we plan to use it?   . . .my guess is that you will get a
payment from a bunch of our members as soon as they get the file.

Thanks.  And keep up the good work.

 Ron - ABUG
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 40        Wed Nov 03, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 01:36 EST

  The proposed shareware price is $25. That's $25 U.S. or $25 Canadian. That
is intended to be an incentive for U.S. customers to purchase Canadian dollar
money orders. My bank will accept a U.S. dollar check, but will take ages to
clear it.
  - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 41        Wed Nov 03, 1993
STEPHENSON [Bob in ABQ]      at 20:45 EST

Alan,   Will you accept cash?
                Bob in Albuquerque
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 42        Thu Nov 04, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 02:21 EST

  I wouldn't throw cash in the garbage! However, isn't it a bit risky? You
will be sending it across the border to Canada, which means double the risk,
since both Customs and Canada Post will have their hands on it. I can accept
U.S. $ checks - it's just a bit inconvenient as they take a while to clear.
  - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 43        Fri Nov 05, 1993
M.EASTER [Mike]              at 05:53 EST

I just downloaded and took a quick look at Storm.  I'm impressed!  (But then I
knew I would be.)

I like the methods that Storm uses, especially in its efforts to conserve
memory; and that most certainly applies to an opportunity to have background
downloading via the use of a 64K buffer, including ZModem.  Any chance of
configurability, ie 32K?  I also like the fact that the transfer modules don't
need to be loaded; no point in having any extra baggage loaded if you don't
need it.

I'm sure the requests for tweaks will begin, so I hope we don't sound too
demanding.  I like the way the editor works (in fact, I'm jotting this post
while looking over the docs in Storm's capture).  Any chance of a toggle for
the 8x16 font vs the 8x8 for monochrome?  (I never did like to read the small
print :-)  The wrap works differently than Flash, general improvement, and the
endlines have a space which precedes the CR.  That necessitated my needing to
edit this message (CR for space CR) before uploading with Flash to prevent
GEnie's reformating from putting a space where my old endlines were when it
makes new endlines.

In Basic, the first time I say HELP, I get the full list of available.  If I
say help (specific) I get that help.  Then if I say help again, I just get the
specific.  How does one get the general list again?

Now I just have to find out where to get $Can money orders around here.

Mike Easter
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 44        Fri Nov 05, 1993
MIKE-ALLEN [NM~SysOp]        at 18:04 EST

Mike Easter,

The second time around for the help function just type "help help."

It is a really neat program.  The VT-100 emulation is the best (and fastest)
I've seen.  Having a capture window open while in the terminal mode also gives
you a good look-back function.

Thanks to Alan for releasing it as Shareware.  I do hope folks will pay Alan
so that he will be rewarded for his effort and will be encouraged to continue.

        Mike Allen
        ST HelpDesk~Sysop

        Written: 3:25 PM Mountain Time
                 Friday, November 5, 1993

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 45        Fri Nov 05, 1993
C.HAYWARD [Clar]             at 19:00 EST

Alan...is there a way to turn off the blinking cursor?

If not can it be made an option in a future release?

Clar

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 46        Fri Nov 05, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 19:16 EST

  There is currently no way to stop the blinking cursor or set the font. That
is something that I will be adding later. At some point I just had to decide
to get this out the door, or else it would have lingered on forever.
  Storm Ascii upload should automatically strip the trailing spaces from blank
lines. That was one of the early changes I made.
 - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 47        Fri Nov 05, 1993
S.LYSTER [Stu Lyster]        at 21:05 EST

Congratulations, Alan Page, on Storm ver 1.00.  I've been playing with it for
a day now, and you will surely see my shareware registration.  If 1.00 is this
good, I want in on the future of Storm!

Two bugs - if you can call them that.

1) When using the Alt-( ) keys: if you go into a drop down menu via
   the mouse, then the second level of key-baorad key-presses of the
   underlined letters does not seem to work.
   If you go into the drop down menus via an Alt-( ) press, then the
   second level single-key keyboard keypresses *does* work.  This
   might be a minor thing...

2) When doing a Zmodem upload, I noticed that everything works ok...
   the choosing of Zmodem, and the calling of the GEM directory...
   but if you double click on the file *in* the file listing, the
   transfer fails before it starts.  If you single-click (to darken
   it in the main listing), and then click on the 'OK' box, it
   transfers fine.

I will keep the reports coming.  But it is otherwise a fine successor to Flash
1.6.  I *love* the background transfers and the ability to call up endless
windows, *with* the transfer going on behind!  Great stuff.  STalker, beware!

BTW - I love the 'module' idea in loading terminal emulations.  It makes it
tremendously flexible!  When are the colour modules coming out?  Is there
going to be an ANSI module?

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 48        Sat Nov 06, 1993
BRUTUS                       at 00:07 EST

I've been eagerly awaiting Storm since I first heard about it! Unfortunately,
I can't get it to run on my system. I've got a monochrome 520 (external
drive),  one meg (expanded from the original 512K), TOS 1.4, and an older
version of the ICD hard drive utilities. Each time I try to boot it up, I'm
greeted with four (maybe five, it goes away too quick) bombs. I set it up on
both my D and J partitions, with all of the Storm files, except for  the Basic
ones, in a STORM directory. Is there something I could be doing wrong?
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 49        Sat Nov 06, 1993
S.LYSTER [Stu Lyster]        at 10:21 EST

I really do love Storm!, so forgive me for *reaching* to find something wrong
with it.

Alan Page asked for comments... so how's *this* for a reach.  When selecting a
single BBS for dialing, as a GEM user I have gotten used to being able to
'darken' the menu item with the mouse point and single-click, then double-
click and open it.

It seems that because the single-click is part of Storm's way of marking a BBS
for multidialing, that the first click of the double click 'undarkens' the
menu item.  Then the second click does nothing.

I told you it was a reach.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 50        Sat Nov 06, 1993
M.EASTER [Mike]              at 10:30 EST

Mike - re help help

Thanks.  (Why didn't I think of that?)

Alan - re font and cursor fix later

I think it's just as well to have some features around the corner to help
motivate us to send in our shareware/registration fees.

-re Storm will strip the trailing spaces during upload

Ahh.  I see.

- re $Can money orders

I learned that my bank (and others) don't sell $Can money orders, just $Can
certified checks (for a $25 fee!) BUT the US Post Office _does_ sell $Can
money orders (up to $700, the only foreign country they do) for only a $0.75
fee.  But the line looked like an hour long when I went by (probably buying
money orders for Storm :-) so I'll have to try again later.

BRUTUS - re can't boot it

What's the rest of your setup (auto, accs)?  Have you tried it clean yet?  I
had no problem with my usual array of autos and accs (not even my leaner
meaner config).  Storm is no memory hog at all.  Do you have a desk manager
that will make it easy to start off native and add in your supplements one by
one until you find an offender?

Mike Easter
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 51        Sat Nov 06, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 10:46 EST

All,

My first experience with Storm was very positive. But I could not get Zmodem
and X/Ymodem uploads and downloads to work, when calling my own BBS. I'm
running Geneva, and had a MOD player going at the same time. I'll try again
later without the MOD player (boohoo! I *like* stereo while I work!), but I
see no reason the MOD functions would interfere with the serial port.

Has anyone used Storm under Geneva yet?

Brutus,

make sure the fast-load bit is turned off.

Al

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 52        Sat Nov 06, 1993
R.SNYDER6 [Roger S.]         at 13:23 EST

     Well I'm puzzeled. Storm seems to run fine for me, except it doesn't
dial. (4meg MEGA ST, Zoom modem.) The dial command just times out without any
action by the modem.

     The only time I see anything being sent to the modem, (indicated by the
flash of its lights) is when I set the serial parameters.

     Flash, Alladin, etc. work fine, as do MAC comm programs under Spectre.
The modem test program from TOAD, while the modem did show it was receiving
info from it, said there was no modem to test.

     Any ideas anyone?

--Roger

P.S. I like what I have seen of Storm so far.

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 53        Sat Nov 06, 1993
S.GARRIGUS [Scott]           at 13:32 EST

Alan,

You've definitely come up with a real winner this time!  Storm is excellent!
I love it!  I especially love being able to program scripts in BASIC.  It's
the best!  You'll definitely be seeing my $25.

Now for a couple of bugs...

1.) In order for Storm to gain access to my modem at all I had to use Serial
Fix 2.0.  Of course I know you mentioned that before but you don't just need
it for flow control.  I tried using Storm without it and it just wouldn't
acess the modem at all.

[My system is an Atari 520STfm w2.5meg. and TOS 1.0]

2.)  I couldn't get the auto dialing to work.  I could type in the dialing
command in the terminal window or have BASIC dial for me but the dialing
dialog wouldn't work.  I don't know why.  I know the modem is receiving the
characters cause I can see it lights flashing but it just doesn't pick up the
line.

3.)  I managed to do a successful upload using YMODEM in the background while
I was fiddling around with BASIC.  (That was cool.) But when the download was
complete, it didn't notify me or even stop by itself so I decided to check on
it by switching to the File Transfer window and STORM just bombed out.  Very
weird.

Well, that was just my first try at the program but I think it's great!  Keep
up the good work!

 Scott
 SRG Music & Software

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 54        Sat Nov 06, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 13:33 EST

  Due to a goof that escaped detection, if you have a version of TOS before
1.4, you need to have SERFX20.PRG in your auto folder in order for Storm to
work.
 SERFX20.LZH is file #27506 in library #2. It works for all versions of TOS
and all ST machines. It replaces Atari's SERPATCH and TOS14FIX programs.
  How did we miss this one? Well, I and the various beta testers all had
either newer versions of TOS or were using the serial patch. SERFX20 has a
special 'backdoor' that Storm and other programs can use to get access to
Bruce's serial port routines. Storm recognizes and uses those routines,
avoiding my own buggy code. Other serial patch programs will not fix the bug.
  I do not have Geneva, but I will see if Nathan @ISD has it so I can possibly
check it out at his office.
  - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 55        Sat Nov 06, 1993
C.HAYWARD [Clar]             at 14:08 EST

Alan, my cheque is in the mail hoping that the blinking cursor will be an
early "fix".

Clar

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 56        Sat Nov 06, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 14:16 EST

More on my Storm problems. Everything works great EXCEPT X, Y and Zmodem
transfers in either direction. Nothing happens.

This is true on the ST and the TT, under Geneva and not.

Are they functional in the demo?

I am calling my BBS, which uses a registered copy of DSZ, and no one has ever
reported a problem with DSZ. (Its author created Zmodem.)

I love the VT100 emulation, and the font that Alan created. But this is crazy,
not to get the transfers working. I know how to do this thing, having
programmed telecomm apps myself. It's just not working.

Anyone else have a problem?

Al

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 57        Sat Nov 06, 1993
S.LYSTER [Stu Lyster]        at 15:22 EST

Al F. - I haven't used Storm under Geneva (I just yesterday saw my
     first Geneva desktop at Falcon Systems!) by my ZModem transfers,
     both up and down, work well.  I have TOS 1.4 on an original ST.

Roger S. - I have no idea why Storm's dialer just times out.  It
     works well over here on the Left Coast.

Alan P. - will Storm operate without Serfx20.prg in the auto folder?
     Wow, I'm going to give it a try....  just tried it with no probs
     whatsoever.  Indeed, if this message makes it to GEnie, then you
     can assume that it works on my system with Aladdin!

Great work Alan.  I sent my cheque this morning.  (Just think, 10,000
registrations, at $25 ea.?  Lessee... carry the 0....)  My hope is that you
get rich off this, and that you continue to program this fine stuff.


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 58        Sat Nov 06, 1993
ARCHIVIST [Charlie]          at 16:08 EST

Rodger S, one thing that Storm does that I don't like (and meant to talk to
Alan about, but it kept slipping my mind) is that it sends the modem
initializaton string as soon as you run the program. I quite often forget to
turn my modem on when I first boot my system, and it frequently happens that I
run a comm program before noticing. (Absentminded sysops....)

Anyway, this means that Storm sends the ATZ string to the modem port when
there's nothing there to receive it. Since the modem was not initialized
dialing doesn't work. I fixed this by setting every board to redial once with
a short delay. On redialing, the initialization string is sent a  second time
so things proceed normally after that.

Alan, since I'm finally talking about this, could you add the modem
initialization string to the board Edit menu? I actually use a lot of
different strings for different boards... in fact I have three different
boards set up in Flash II just to call GEnie, depending on what I'm doing.

Charlie/sysop
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 59        Sat Nov 06, 1993
M.MOTOGAWA [MEL]             at 17:14 EST

Alan,

     I too think that Storm is one *terrific* term prg and the background
uploading works great under Geneva.  So much power and so many features.  I
hope your registration database maxs out with tons of registrants.  This may
become one of the most successful shareware prgs of all time.  Now, to get a
Canadian money order.


 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Al,

     You may want to try turning on the Long Timeouts flag in the Zmodem
options section.  Before I did this, I couldn't get Storm to u/l to my local
bbs without it getting too many 'read errors' (whatever those are).  I believe
that once Storm gets 6 or 7 of them, it will abort the u/l.  But by turning on
Long Timeouts, the number of read errors never gets to more than 2, for me,
before it, for some reason, resets the number to 0.  Now u/l's work fine.
Hope this helps.

     - Mel

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 60        Sat Nov 06, 1993
MIKE-ALLEN [NM~SysOp]        at 17:18 EST

Al,

I just checked by dowloading a file here from GEnie (Zmodem) and it worked
fine.

My settings in the ZModem configuration set-up are:  CRC32, Long Time Outs,
Force Binary and Autostart Transfers.  Upload and Download options are both
set to none.

BTW, I have to agree on the VT-100 emulation.  Best and fastest I have seen.

        Mike Allen
        ST HelpDesk~Sysop

        Written: 3:15 PM Mountain Time
                 Saturday, November 6, 1993


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 61        Sat Nov 06, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 19:12 EST

  Try long timeouts for XY and Zmodem. The timeouts are adjusted according to
baud rate, and may be too brief at high speeds. What baud/parity are you
connected at? Can you download Zmodem from GEnie?
  I will experiment with a null-modem cable between my PC and ST with DSZ. I
used DSZ originally while developing Zmodem and it worked fine.
  There is nothing disabled in Storm 1.00. 'Replace' in the Edit menu is
disabled because it isn't implemented yet, and for no other reason.
  SERFX20 is required for TOS versions below 1.4, due to a goof on my part.
However, Storm doesn't contain an internal fix for the RTS/CTS bugs that
affect many TOS versions, so SERFX20 is recommended for those who want to use
RTS/CTS flow control.
  Regarding the Modem initialization string. Just set it blank in the Modem
settings dialog. Earlier beta versions defaulted it to ATZ. I believe I
removed that for version 1.0. The dial suffix must be the carriage return
symbol. You set that by typing Control-M. Unlike Flash, Storm doesn't
recognize '|' as an equivalent to a carriage return.
  - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 62        Sat Nov 06, 1993
POTECHIN [Nathan @ DMC]      at 19:39 EST

I have Geneva, Alan. Please drop by and we'll check it out or I'll try and
remember and test it myself on Monday.

Nathan @ DMC Publishing
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 63        Sat Nov 06, 1993
S.LYSTER [Stu Lyster]        at 19:55 EST

Alan Page - two things that I miss from Flash 1.6 that is not in Storm 1.00.
Consider this a 'wish list' for the registered version.

Both have to do with the text editor.  Now... I have absolutely no idea what
the implications of adding the following items to the text editor has to do
with the over-all workability of Storm... but here I go anyways.  I can only
ask.

Flash 1.6 has been my primary ASCII editor for years... regardless of the
workings of the comm program, the text editor was/is first rate and straight
forward, IMNSHO.

I'd like to see, in Storm, the 'block' drop down menus... maybe simply added
into the present 'Edit' drop down menu.  Fr'instance, when blocking out text,
I'd like to see a 'Start Block' and 'End Block', just like in Flash 1.6; right
now in Storm, one has to hold down the mouse button and drag below the
Window... on a long block this can take a long time...

Also, there does not seem to be a 'Merge' file function... at least one I can
see.  Indeed, I found out about the Blocking limitations, by trying to cut and
paste from one window to another, the text I wished to be able simply to
'merge' to the first editor window.

Am I missing something?  Anyway, there's nothing really wrong with Storm the
way it is.. which makes the wait for the registered version all the more worth
it!

(This message was typed in a text Window in Storm while the dialer was dialing
in the background.  I *love* this program!)


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 64        Sat Nov 06, 1993
R.WATSON15 [Wayne Watson]    at 21:48 EST

 Stu,
   I don't think there are 10,000 of us left. :-) Maybe 2,000.

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 65        Sat Nov 06, 1993
P.GRIFFITH2 [PGRIF]          at 22:11 EST

  I have just started using Storm and have a couple of questions.
     I have the capture buffer ON and after a session when I SAVE as a file I
get a file 2 bytes long. Is there some secret to capturing an entire online
session?
    How do you hang up in Storm? I can't seem to find any way to do this short
of turning off my modem. I haven't really read the doc's carefully so maybe I
missed it.
         Thanks.
                      Paul
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 66        Sat Nov 06, 1993
R.HOEKSTRA1 [RandyH]         at 22:18 EST

Alan, Great Job on Storm! It looks great, especially considering it is version
1.0.  I am having a problem with zmodem, however, and I don't know enough
about it to know what is wrong.

I am trying to download a file from my unix machine at work.  I issue an 'sz'
command at the unix prompt (followed by filename) and the file transfer window
pops up, but then I just get repeated 'read errors'.  The filename does come
across and shows up in the transfer window, but it does not indicate any data
being received.

Anyone... I don't know squat about zmodem and it's various options so I don't
know if I have everything set up right.  I do know it works using XYZ.TTP and
Flash 1.6.  Also, ymodem works fine. Any ideas?

Thanks,
 Randy

Just in case, I am including a help dump from the unix 'sz' I am using:

sz Send file(s) with ZMODEM/YMODEM/XMODEM Protocol
        (Y) = Option applies to YMODEM only
        (Z) = Option applies to ZMODEM only Usage:  sz [-2+abdefkLlNnquvwYy] [-
] file ...
        sz [-2Ceqv] -c COMMAND
        sb [-2adfkquv] [-] file ...
        sx [-2akquv] [-] file
        2   Use 2 stop bits
        +   Append to existing destination file (Z)
        a   (ASCII) change NL to CR/LF
        b   Binary file transfer override
        c   send COMMAND (Z)
        d   Change '.' to '/' in pathnames (Y/Z)
        e   Escape all control characters (Z)
        f   send Full pathname (Y/Z)
        i   send COMMAND, ack Immediately (Z)
        k   Send 1024 byte packets (Y)
        L N Limit subpacket length to N bytes (Z)
        l N Limit frame length to N bytes (l>=L) (Z)
        n   send file only if source newer (Z)
        N   send file only if source newer or longer (Z)
        o   Use 16 bit CRC instead of 32 bit CRC (Z)
        p   Protect existing destination file (Z)
        r   Resume/Recover interrupted file transfer (Z)
        q   Quiet (no progress reports)
        u   Unlink (remove) file after transmission
        v   Verbose - provide debugging information
        w N restrict Window to N bytes (Z)
        Y   Yes, overwrite existing file, skip if not present at rx (Z)
        y   Yes, overwrite existing file (Z)
        Z   Activate ZMODEM compression(Z) 3.14 07-02-91 for SYS III/V by
Chuck Forsberg, Omen Technology INC
                "The High Reliability Software"

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 67        Sat Nov 06, 1993
FAIRWEATHER [David]          at 23:10 EST

I have been unable to get STORM to do file transfers on my Falcon. I have TOS
4.04.  I have tried running with a completely bare system except for FPATCH2
in the Auto folder and the XCONTROL.ACC. Attempting a ZModem download
invariably results in 2 "read" errors and a system lockup that requires a
reboot.  Attempting an Xmodem transfer results in nothing at all happening.
Has anyone else been able to accomplish a download on a Falcon?
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 68        Sat Nov 06, 1993
M.EASTER [Mike]              at 23:31 EST

Re Serial Fix 2.0, Storm, and non-buffered modems

I'm a little confused.  I'm a TOS 1.0 user who does not have a high speed or
buffered modem (mine is 2400, just v.22 bis), so ordinarily I don't think I
would have RTS/CTS enabled.  I don't use a control panel, and when I'm using
Flash, Flash establishes the port they way it wants.  I think it uses no flow
control (status doesn't say anything about RTS/CTS), and has the option of
allowing me to toggle DC2/DC4 (XON/XOFF?) as an ascii ul/dl option.  Mine is
off.

Serial Fix 2.0 contains two auto folder program choices; SerFx20 and SerFx20X.
20 should be used with a CPX; 20X can be used without (saving much ram) and
simply enables RTS/CTS on; plus its side benefits.

If I must use Serial Fix 2.0 for Storm, but would have RTS/CTS off (for a no
buffer modem), does that mean I would have to use _both_ the auto prg _and_
the acc (ugh!) just so I can turn RTS/CTS off?  Or, is having RTS/CTS on
"harmless" to a modem without a buffer?  Storm docs say I should have a flow
control (RTS/CTS or XON/XOFF) enabled.

My modem's factory default (&R0) says the CTS signal will follow the RTS
signal (I get to choose the delay, default is 10 msec); optional &R1 ignores
RTS and keeps CTS on.

Would I derive any benefit from having RTS/CTS on (via SerFix 20X) under some
non-Storm conditions, such as running XYZ 2.01 ttp to download Z modem while
inside Flash?  I do not currently have any flow control problems that I
recognize.  My Z modem (Flash/XYZ) downloads on GEnie typically run about 222-
225.

Mike Easter
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 69        Sat Nov 06, 1993
FAIRWEATHER [David]          at 23:52 EST

i just tried the long timeouts, but still no go on my Falcon at 2400 baud.  I
get two read errors and then the program locks up so that althought the mouse
pointer moves, clicking on the ABORT TRANSFER box does nothing.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 70        Sun Nov 07, 1993
R.SNYDER6 [Roger S.]         at 01:39 EST

    Thanks for the help everyone. When I tried Storm out on my other ST with
TOS 1.04, it dialed fine. I also get dloads fine (I signed right on and DLed
the serial fix program), and they work in the background under Geneva. I do
get read errors when starting file transfers, and a timeout once, but once
things get going the file transfers fine (I tried both X & Z). I assume that
the serial fix program will fix the problem with the MEGA, which only has TOS
1.02.

     Thanks again--Roger
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 71        Sun Nov 07, 1993
E.SAKARA1                    at 07:32 EST

Another bug report. --- I have TOS 1.4 on an 2 meg 520STFM.

I cannot get STORM to dail a number.  When I select DIAl from the menu, I can
hear the modem dialing a long string of numbers (much more than the 7 numbers
I requested).  I then hit a recording that says the number I called is not in
service.

I tried manually dialing (ATDT...) and after my number was dialed, STORM
dialed a bunch more numbers and displayed T9876543210 on the terminal screen.

It looks to me like it is adding this string (T9876543210) to every number
that gets dailed, manually or from the menu.

Any comments or suggestions.  I saw the note uptopic about SERFX20 so I'll try
that, but the comment was that it is only needed for TOS 'below' 1.4 and I am
using 1.4.

thanks - Eric Sakara

P.S. Alan, nice looking product.  It was worth the wait (if I can get
     it to dail the phone).
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 72        Sun Nov 07, 1993
J.MEEHAN3 [>> Joe M << ]     at 10:10 EST

        I can't wait to see some of the Basic programs that will be
 coming for Storm.

         I hope anyone who writes one will upload it for us.

 >> Joe M <<

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 73        Sun Nov 07, 1993
E.SAKARA1                    at 11:29 EST

Some further info about my dialing problems (dialer sends a 'long' string of
numbers, rather than the 7 digit phone number).

I found one number in my directory worked.   I examined the DIALDIR.INI file
and found that the COM= statement for this one BBS ended with 127 and all my
other entries ended with 255 (6th value in the COM= statement). I manually
changed this to 127 on my other entries and now they seem to work as well.
The 127 doesn't work for GENIE though.  I used the supplied BASic program to
access GENIE.

Does anyone know what this 6th parameter is for?  BTW I loaded the old copy
(with 255) and the new copy (with 127) and I can't find any difference in any
of the online displayed parameters.

thanks - eric
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 74        Sun Nov 07, 1993
E.SAKARA1                    at 11:37 EST

TO - ALAN

Terrific program BUT
    1) see my posts above about problems dialing numbers
    2) I hate the flashing cursor.  Make a static one optional.
    3) I have been getting some weird alerts when editing a loaded BAS
       program (tokenized).  Especially when I try to quit by using the
       'close' button (top left corner).  Unfortunately, I didn't make
       a note of the msg.  Will try and duplicate it.
    4) do you plan to support 'drag and drop'?  It would be nice if
       I could drag a text file and drop it on the icon to have STORM
       come up with the file in a text window.  Then you could use
       STORM as a general text editor more easily.
    5) The capture buffer doesn't seem to handle BACKSPACE properly.
       BS shows up as a blank and thus makes the capture buffer hard
       to read.

Yes my cheque is on the way (mornign post, I hope).

thanks - eric
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 75        Sun Nov 07, 1993
J.FRENCH2 [James French]     at 11:41 EST

Everyone, I had problems getting Storm to run on my TOS 1.4 1meg 520ST. It
bombed everytime I tried to run it.  After installing SERFX20.PRG (file
#27506) it worked.  I'm using it right now!  Thanks Alan! Cheque should be
coming soon. James French Edmonton, Alberta
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 76        Sun Nov 07, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 12:54 EST

Roger,

As extracted, Storm had a modem init that was blank. When I changed it to ATZ,
the modem dialed out OK.

Alan,

I'm definitely buying Storm, just from what I have seen so far, taking it for
granted that the problem I have getting file transfers to work is just an
oddity that can be fixed here. ASCII uploads and downloads work fine, and I
downloaded 400K of text at 9600 bps under Geneva while running two word
processors and four file viewers, and while copying an entire 256-meg
partition under MaxiFile. As a background app, Storm appears to be as solid as
they come.

(A quick thought: Is is possible that the file protocol can't deal with huge
partitions? My sectors are 4K.)

Al

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 77        Sun Nov 07, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 14:13 EST

Alan,

Thanks for the help. I spend six hours last night and had no luck, no matter
what the settings were. Geneva isn't the problem, since I can't do zmodem,
xmodem or ymodem with a bare system.

I tried the serial fix and tried it without it.

No go.

I also found that Storm will not recognize the Modem 2 port on the TT.

I'll keep plugging away. Obviously it works, but it also obviously does not
work on my system. It calls out and does everything elses just fine, but I
asked another user with the extra ports to check his setup and Storm did not
recognize the Modem 2 port there either.

One thing to note: if you use Serial Fix, you can't put ANY comm program on
any of the extra ports. The system locks up. Serial fix directs all port
access to Modem 1, even if your moddem is plugged into Modem 2 and your
software is set for that port.

All in all, this thing is great. Anyone  who can help with this (and thanks
already to all who have stepped in) will be greatly rewarded. Umm ... I'll
send you a copy of my Secrets of Flush, about the Fying Thrones screen
savers....

Paul,

Yes, I agree, Storm needs a hangup command. I've never seen another comm
program that didn't have one.

David,

I forgot to add above that my ST locks up also when trying to upload in x, y
or zmodem. The TT doesn't, but the ST locks up solid. It does precisely the
same thing you descrivbe on your Falcon, and can't be related to the Falcon's
design since this happens on a 1986 1040ST.

Alan? Have you seen this sort of thing?

Al


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 78        Sun Nov 07, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 14:43 EST

 >>dial. (4meg MEGA ST, Zoom modem.) The dial command just times out  <<
  >>without any  action by the modem.                                  <<

 Make sure you don't have the modem set for something like 7E1 as some
 modems won't recognize this mode for commands.


  >>  Anyone else have a problem?                                      <<
  >>Al                                                                 <<
  >>                                                                   <<
   No problem here.  That should tell you something.  Grin.


  >>   Alan, since I'm finally talking about this, could you add the   <<
  >>modem  initialization string to the board Edit menu? I actually    <<
  >>use a lot of  different strings for different boards... in fact I  <<
  >>have three different  boards set up in Flash II just to call       <<
  >>GEnie, depending on what I'm doing.                                <<

    YES, YES, YES.  Todays new modems often have to have unique setups
 for some boards and StormBasic, great as it is, isn't an answer here,
 and setting up function keys is a pain.  REally need modem
 initialization setups for each dialer entry, a la Teddy-Term 2.

  >>  BTW, I have to agree on the VT-100 emulation.  Best and fastest  <<
  >>I have  seen.                                                      <<
   Yep, good VT100 emulation, now if it only worked for VT52.  Sigh.
 Any new emulations to be added, Alan??


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 79        Sun Nov 07, 1993
S.LYSTER [Stu Lyster]        at 15:25 EST

What with all the rpeorts and wishes lists about Storm comping through, Alan
Page might rue the day it was released.

I hope he takes it as peoples excitement about an *excellent* program.  The
Atari boards in Vancouver are starting to join the fray.  Storm, in this
shareware version 1.00, is already surpassed Connect, and is seen, in the 1.00
version, as a direct competitor to STalker.  Wait'll the registered version
hits the disk drives...

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 80        Sun Nov 07, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 15:37 EST

  X/Y/Zmodem are not handling the switch from parity to no parity properly. If
you are connecting with odd or even parity, then try connecting at 8-bits, no
parity.
  A couple of read errors are normal. I should actually disable this, as all
it means is that the other end sent a second (correct) header.
  Re: dialing. Try an inter-character delay in the modem setup.
  The 127 or 255 in the dial directory COM entry is the setting for "Mask high
bit" in the serial port settings dialog. 255 means don't mask the high bit,
127 will mask off the high-bit.
 If you have a Basic program that causes an alert, please email it to me. I
will also check this problem out.
  Two of the most requested features seem to be marking blocks and non-
blinking cursor. Consider them moved to the top of the list.
  Storm has the ability to hang up the modem, but I neglected to document it
well. Select an ALT key, e.g. ALT-H, in the ALT-key macro editor that you want
to assign to hangup the modem. Type the following entry:
 DTR OFF:PAUSE 1:DTR ON
  That will toggle the Modem DTR off, pause for a second, then restore the DTR
signal. That should hang up the modem. The reason I did not hard code this
function to a specific key is that I wanted to allow people the flexibility to
set this thing up the way it suits them. Similarly, BREAK ON:PAUSE 1:BREAK OFF
will send a hardware break. This is also not assigned to a specific key.
 Are you using SerialFX 2.0? The earlier version the program definitely had a
problem with the extra serial ports, I believe 2.0 fixed that problem. I may
upload my serial port inquiry program to help people figure this out. It
reveals the serial port addresses for all the serial ports.
  VT52 is a subset of VT100. All the VT52 code is actually present in the
VT100 - you just need to send the correct escape sequence to set it into VT52
mode. ESC [?2l will do the trick. ESC< turns it back into VT100 from VT52
mode. The Basic command:
  TYPE chr$(27);"[?2l";
  will do it for you. I will look at removing the VT52 code and putting it in
a separate module.
  If you switch Storm from one machine to another, keep separate STORM.INI
files. This is important if you set up Storm for one type of machine, e.g. an
ST, then move the STORM.INI file to a TT. Storm will become confused about the
serialport hardware
 BTW I have a TT and MegaSTE connected with a null-modem cable. I have
SERFX20.PRG installed and I just set the port to MODEM 2 (from within Storm)
and transmitted some text to the MegaSTE while on-line and then switched back
to MODEM 1 and continued the message. No problem.
  - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 81        Sun Nov 07, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 19:06 EST

 >>  I forgot to add above that my ST locks up also when trying to    <<
  >>upload in x,  y or zmodem. The TT doesn't, but the ST locks up     <<
  >>solid. It does precisely the  same thing you descrivbe on your     <<
  >>Falcon, and can't be related to the Falcon's  design since this    <<
  >>happens on a 1986 1040ST. Alan? Have you seen this sort of thing?  <<

   You don't happen to be loading the program with the FASTBIT set, do
 you?  Some programs really get messed up when you do that..


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 82        Sun Nov 07, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 20:28 EST

  I have figured out what is happening with Basic editing. If you load a
tokenized Basic program, and it has no labels, or no variables, or neither,
then it will free memory it shouldn't when you edit it.
  Two ways to fix this: use Ascii format (LIST "filename" command) or make
sure your program has a label somewhere, e.g.
 Label:
 on a line by itself is sufficient. Make sure you have at least one variable
as well.
 I am working on the parity bug with Zmodem. It is a bit tricky since the ST
serial port routines throw out characters with parity errors, so there is a
problem if one side switches parity before the other. It is not clear from the
protocol when this switch should happen. And, on the PC, I believe he assumes
that characters with the wrong parity will be let through. Suggestions
welcome.
  For those with TT and large screen displays, there is an undocumented way to
get more lines on the screen. In the [Terminal] section of the STORM.INI file,
place a line "Rows=30". With TT Medium Rez, you get 30 lines of terminal
screen and one line of typeahead. However, you cannot change this on the fly.
This is a "USE AT YOUR OWN RISK" feature at present.
  For ST Medium Rez users, the Vidtex offers a simple setup which will let you
switch to 21 lines on the terminal screen, using a full 8x8 font, which should
be more readable if you find the 8x7 one annoying.
  In VT100, you may need to set BS Erases OFF in the terminal settings as it
is not a normal VT100 feature as far as I can determine.
   - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 84        Mon Nov 08, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 00:08 EST

Alan,

Thanks for the additional help; it was explicit, and gives me some possible
ways to turn my problems around. When I installed STorm on the ST, I just
copied the TT installation over, so the INI file situation may account for
some of the problems I had on the ST. I am sure I have the latest serial fix,
but I am not sure I am using it (!). (I have a couple of versions, and I'll
see which one is the latest. Or maybe I'll just download the one that's latest
in the GEnie listings and let it go at that.)

(I just checked, and the serial fix that I have is 5658 bytes; is that the
size of the proper one?)

The frustrating thing was to find that calling STorm from the TT to STorm on
the ST didn't work as far as file transfers either, but the INI file problem
might have messed things up, so I'll try again.

BTW, I like very much your Windows-like menu equivalents, in which the
keyboard shortcuts are common-sense ones instead of the pattern we have seen
in so many applications for the Atari - you know, the alt-shift-control-tab-
backspace-M type of thing that can't possibly be remembered. Geneva does the
same sort of thing, creating menu equivs on the fly, and it's a godsend.

Also, I did some quick comparisons, and your text editor is FAST. And the font
is the best I have seen, bar none.

As for the Rows=30 entry in the Terminal section of STORM.INI (why do I think
I am back at my PC? <g>), can Rows be more than 30?

Ron,

No, no fastbit. (Actually, Geneva takes care of the fastload problem, so that
fastload bits can be set or not set without causing the dreaded memory
conflicts, but I always turn off the fastload bits before I try anything out.
Maxifile struts its stuff once again...

Al



 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 85        Mon Nov 08, 1993
K.CAVAGHAN2 [OakSprings]     at 01:03 EST

S.LYSTER [Stu Lyster]
 > The Atari boards in Vancouver are starting to join the fray.

Stu,

I've been out of the local scene for quite a while, could you e-mail me about
some of the local boards here in Vancouver.

Thanks,
 Kent

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 86        Mon Nov 08, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 01:46 EST

  I am still working on Zmodem. I found a few bugs, and seem to have
introduced some new ones! I am working on one with debug code so I can print
messages to a file. The Storm bugs are pretty much fixed and I hope to upload
a patch tomorrow evening.
 5658 bytes is the correct size.
 You can experiment with various Rows= values, but if you specify a value
which will make the terminal window larger than the screen, you may like the
result!
  I have tried to put the ability to personalize stuff into Storm. That is
why, outside of the menu bar, I have avoided assigning fixed functions to
keys. e.g. in my sample STORMKEY.INI I show how to set Control-S and Control-R
to do forward/reverse searches. That happens to be how my Windows programming
editor does it. But other people may prefer something completely different,
e.g. control-F.
  The various .INI files are very flexible. Using the Basic SET command will
automatically create new sections for you. Many programs have configuration
files that are binary and cannot be messed with.
  Once I get the initial bugs out of the way, I am going to go back to the
Basic and start adding more commands. e.g. setting the size and position of
windows from Basic.
 Another sample key macro:
 IF ALERT(1,"[1][Clear Window][Yes|No]") = 1 then menu 1,4
  This will pop up an alert, and if you select yes, clears an editor window.
  Note that non-Basic key macros will enter text as if you typed it in at the
keyboard. This works both for the terminal AND editor windows. e.g. put your
name or logo into a function key.
 - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 87        Mon Nov 08, 1993
M.EASTER [Mike]              at 06:31 EST

Al - re Serial Fix 2.0

SerFx20.prg is 5658, it requires the CPX to choose RTS/CTS on/off; XON/XOFF
on/off.  SerFx20X.prg is 5660; it locks RTS/CTS on.  File here with docs is
#27506.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 88        Mon Nov 08, 1993
S.LYSTER [Stu Lyster]        at 10:24 EST

Another wish on the Storm wish list....

How about having the arrow pointer disappear during keyboard presses?
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 89        Mon Nov 08, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 19:05 EST

Alan,
    Tried the suggestion for turning on the VT52 with no success.
 Didn't seem to change anything at all.
 Ron


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 90        Mon Nov 08, 1993
R.SNYDER6 [Roger S.]         at 19:44 EST

     Just a note, I added the serial fix program and both STs now run Storm
fine.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 91        Mon Nov 08, 1993
NEVIN-S                      at 21:24 EST

Alan:

Any chance of getting Wyse 50 emulation? That would be terrific!

--Nevin
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 92        Mon Nov 08, 1993
K.ESTES [Kenne@SFRT]         at 22:51 EST

Nevin-S.... That's the spirit! Never give up! <G>
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 93        Mon Nov 08, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 23:01 EST

  That's a lower-case L at the end of the ESC[?2l sequence. The title bar will
not change from VT100, but you can look in the  Keyboard macros dialog and see
if the cursor key definitions have changed from e.g. ESC[A to ESCA, ESC[B to
ESCB, etc. VT52 has no '[' in the cursor keys.
 Regarding WYSE 50, all I should need is a fairly complete manual and a beta
tester to take a crack at it.
  Regarding having the mouse (arrow pointer) disappear: This is fairly
unfriendly with multitasking environments like Geneva and MultiTOS. It
requires care to see that you only hide the mouse when your program is in
control. It is a possible feature, but fairly low on the list. The top
features on the list are the ability to mark blocks, merge files, and resize
the terminal screen and typeahead.
  - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 94        Mon Nov 08, 1993
R.WHITTAM [Ron - ABUG]       at 23:44 EST

Alan,

First, Nice program.

Second,  It would be nice to have a HANG UP option on the dial menu. I have
dialed into a few local BBS's that don't often work right.  As it was, the
modem answered and the BBS seemed to connect, but the host computer must have
hung, (happens all the time).  However, I couldn't figure out how to "hang up"
the line, (just read your "undocumented feature" message - thanks).

Third, I have read about a "registered version".  What are you including for
the $25.00 registration fee?  Does the "registered version" have more or
improved features (that would be hard to do since this shareware version seem
pretty full featured to me)?

I will also be sending you the fee.  Thanks again for a great product for my
Atari Computer.

By the way, I use TOS 1.04 (Rainbow TOS) and I couldn't run Storm without the
SERFX20.PRG, (for those who care to know).

Ron - ABUG

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 95        Tue Nov 09, 1993
M.SAEGER                     at 01:10 EST

I downloaded Storm to try it out. A couple of comments: I tried dialing into
the mainframe at work via our protocol converter. The 24 PF keys are emulated
as follows: PF1 = Esc 1, PF2 = Esc 2, etc. PF13 = Esc A, Esc B, etc. I tried
setting my F1 key to Esc 1 but Esc 1 gets changed to some graphics character.
Same for Esc 2, etc. I can use Esc A, Esc B, etc (PF 13-22). Is there a way to
set a  function to Esc 1, etc? Mainframe printing is allowed using the VT100
print escape sequence. Apparently this is not implemented. It works fine using
Uniterm and Flash II. Also, I would like to be able to set up escape sequences
for the  Clr/Home, and Insert keys. I would also like to be able to set Ctrl-
Return as ctrl-J (mainframe new line key). Both Flash II and Uniterm seem to
do this automatically. That's it for now. Thanks.
 ------------*s ?
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 96        Tue Nov 09, 1993
CBARRON                      at 02:32 EST

  Is there a bug, or am I just missing something.  When I attempt to use storm
to dial a board at the default baud rate it dials. If the BBS is not at the
current baud rate it does not.  TT030/tos 3.06,
 modem 1, 14.4 v.42bis DCD [rts/cts]. 8n1. full duplex, this is with ser2.0
patch loaded with or without rts/cts locking.  Just getting it to dial is a
pain, right now.  Zmodem is broken, is B+,or vidtex emulation?



 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 97        Tue Nov 09, 1993
P.GRIFFITH2 [PGRIF]          at 02:58 EST

 So far I am not thrilled by Storm. On my system(Mega 4 w/TOS 2.06, Zyxel
1496E modem) I have these problems with this program. 1. Capture buffer is ON,
but I can't save anything. A 2 byte file is all that is ever saved. Posted
here about it, but got no replies. 2. Sometimes I need to turn on the DCD to
dial, sometimes it needs to be off. Using ATZ to initialize, as in all other
terms that I use. 3. Zmodem downloads lock up more often than not, not
appreciated on LD calls. I have read all messages here and tried all of the
fixes suggested. All other terms(Interlink, Aladdin, Stalker and several Mac
programs(in Spectre)) work fine with my system. I do have Serial fix 2.0
running. 4. No easy hang-up without constructing a macro. Maybe it's not hard,
but I've never seen a term program without one, and prefer to use the mouse to
hang-up. 5. No easy way to set up autologon. I can't get the basic record
program to work. I will read the directions again.
 I do LOVE the automatic Zmodem(when it works) and the VT-100 is great.
 Any ideas about these problems?
          Paul
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 98        Tue Nov 09, 1993
JLS [John Stanley]           at 03:30 EST

  Mike Easter,

  Regarding your request for a command that can just call the file selector
without doing anything else...  I know of none, but you can easily do it by
using the "GEM" command to call a tiny external program that does it for you.
I wrote a small program called FS.PRG that just calls the file selector and
exits.  Very handy for using UIS from within Flash (and other programs with
external program capability...).

  If you want it, I'll be glad to send you a copy of FS...

   ... JLS
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 99        Tue Nov 09, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 06:58 EST

Alan,
    Thanks for the tips on VT52.  I did get it to work, sorta.
 Doesn't capture though...  Sigh.  I guess I will have to put the
 escape sequence in a autologon file so it will set the terminal type
 on connect...  Other than the lack of a capture, it seems to work
 well, thanks.
 Ron


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 100       Tue Nov 09, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 08:39 EST

Thanks, Alan.

I've tried revised settings as per your latest posts and get lockups on the TT
when it tries to do a ZM download that is initiated from MicroLink on a PC.
That was an 8-N-1, loose timing, and so on.

No luck on the ST so far either.

Mike,

It REQUIRES the cpx? I looked back at Bruce's docs and didn't realize that.
Are you sure?

Paul,

I have the same reaction. Great promise in STorm, but I haven't been able to
get it to work right, and it needs a hangup command. That's an absolute
necessity.

Al

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 101       Tue Nov 09, 1993
M.EASTER [Mike]              at 10:36 EST

Al - re Serial Fix 2.0; SerFx20 vs SerFx20X prgs; docs

I just realized.  I didn't get my SerFx20 from GEnie; I downloaded it from a
local bbs which is no longer operational.

 Archive - SERFIX20.LZH
 READ_ME  1ST      1,123
 SERFX20  PRG      5,658
 SERFX20X PRG      5,660
 SERIALFX CPX      7,325
 SERIALFX DOC     11,032

from Read_Me.1st...

Special addendum documentation!!  1/30/93 -------------------------------------
----

There should be TWO versions of the same program in this archive, one called
SERFX20.PRG and one called SERFX20X.PRG.  The SERFX20.PRG is to be used, along
with the SERIALFX.CPX file, in conjunction with the Extensible Control Panel
from Atari Corp.  The SERFX20X.PRG was a special favor to me from Bill Penner
that I am passing on to you (with his permission).  This special version only
requires that you place it somewhere in the AUTO folder.  It doesn't need the
Extensible Control Panel (which is a SERIOUS memory hog!!) and automatically
locks RTS/CTS to the on position (requiring a total of 4K of RAM).  This is
much more suitable for all the one-meg-of-RAM sufferers out there.  I spent a
total of two hours on the phone with Mr. Penner setting up my modem so if you
have any questions, DON'T hesitate to send me E-mail or (for those of you that
know my phone #) to call me.  I will be glad to help out.  Until then... HAPPY
HIGH SPEED MODEMING!!

The Lightning Rod BBS - Home of TLR Software Ltd. (((olverine

..end Read_Me.1st

John Stanley - re FS.PRG

Yes.  I would love to have FS.  Right now I'm looking for a program which
would call the file selector from the desktop with a hotkey (sorta like
DCRTCall does with the right mouse button), but I could execute a program by
doubleclicking on it; sorta like the result I get from GEM or EXE in Flash.
DCRtCall doesn't do that for me.  (I don't know if it is supposed to.)

Alan - re alternate font (8x16 vs 8x8) for ST hi rez

Is it possible for me to get an 8x16 font with a BASic command?

Mike Easter
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 102       Tue Nov 09, 1993
C.HAYWARD [Clar]             at 19:42 EST

I'm doing something wrong. Maybe?

I've been using Storm on an upgraded to TOS 1.04 and 4megs ST, SERFX2 and a
Supra 14.4 modem.

I left the modem init string blank and have used ZMODEM to down/upload to
several local systems and had no problems with Bplus for downloads.

I've had the RECORDER program make local logon scripts and the included CIS
and GEnie logon programs worked without a hitch.

If I could stand the "blinking" blinking cursor I'd be using Storm regularly.

Clar

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 103       Tue Nov 09, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 20:04 EST

 >>  I have the same reaction. Great promise in STorm, but I haven't  <<
  >>been able  to get it to work right, and it needs a hangup command. <<
  >>That's an absolute  necessity.                                     <<

 ??  MINE has one.  First thing I added.  DTR OFF:PAUSE 1:DTR ON:END
 on F10, or Alt-H (it's free).
 Whatsa prob?


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 104       Tue Nov 09, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 21:10 EST

  I guess the simplest way to ensure that people have a 'hangup' key is to
program the ALT-H key (as mentioned in a previous message) to toggle the DTR
signal. Perhaps I should have placed more of these things in the STORMKEY.INI
file I included with the package.
  I will be uploading a patch file later tonight that will fix some of the
bugs I have found. Other bugs are harder to track down. e.g. Zmodem. Some
people have no problem, other's have a lot of problems.
  It is easier to find a bug with fairly specific instructions. e.g. someone
said 'I see alerts and it crashed after editing a Basic program'. It took a
while to figure out that it had to be after loading a tokenizes, not Ascii,
Basic program, and it had to have no labels and/or no variables.
 Re: two bytes in saved capture file:
  When you switch to the capture buffer, does it actually contain text?
  What menu option do you pick? Save ? Save As...?  Save As... on the Capture
menu? Save ... on the Basic menu? Did the file already exist and you got the
"Append,Overwrite,Cancel" alert? Please be very specific and detailed. Another
question, can you load files into the capture buffer?

  I will be working on the registered version about a day or two a week from
now to January. I want to add improved editor features, true ANSI color
graphics, and a way for Basic to run dialog boxes, at the very least. I hope
to add a lot more. I will not be shipping the registered shareware version
until January I expect, so if you want to wait until it's actually shipping,
that's fine.
    Regarding ESC 1, ESC 2, etc. Thank you for pointing that out. It is a
mistake in the way I am handling control characters in the profile files. You
need to edit the STORMKEY.INI file. For ESC 1, you will see a line Key="\331".
Change it to Key="\0331". That should do the trick. The fix for that will not
be included in tonight's patch, but should be ready for the next patch.
  However, the patch file does contain information on setting up keyboard
macros for insert, clr-home, etc, which should be useful for you. Eventually,
I plan to add a feature to the VT100 which will let you run a Basic command or
program when VT100 is enabled and possibly also when it gets a reset command.
That will assist in customizing it for your purposes.
   There is some confusion regarding dialing and serial/terminal setups. In
the dial editor, you can double-click on a name then set the serial settings
for that number. The dialer should switch to that baud rate, etc before it
dials the board. I will check that out to see if there is a problem. If you
always use the same baud rate for your modem, there is no need to setup
individual serial settings.
  Zmodem appears to be erratic. Some people have no problems, others can't get
it to work at all. If it doesn't work for you, try to explain how to reproduce
the problem. If you find yourself getting hot and bothered, stop using the
program and wait till things settle down. Go back to whatever you were using
before. I am not shoving the program down your throat. I have also not played
the 'guilt' card and put a time limit on using the current version after which
people are supposed to feel like criminals for continuing to use it. I don't
believe in that approach. If I don't come up with features for the registered
shareware version that tempt you, you can either continue to use the non-
registered version with a clear conscience, or drop the program entirely - no
hard feelings.
   How to call the file selector from Storm Basic:
  x$ = FSEL$("","")
  x$ is required because FSEL$ returns a string and Basic syntax requires that
you have something to accept that return value. If you enter that line in a
keyboard macro, it will call the file selector and do nothing else. Note x$
could be any Basic string variable.

  How to add modem initialization strings for individual phone numbers:
 In the dial directory editor, add the command at the start of the phone
number, together with the dial command. e.g. &M0DT123-4567. Then, in the modem
setup, change the dial prefix to "AT".

  Well, I appreciate the comments. I am tracking down and fixing the bugs as I
discover them. However, I still have to put in long hours for my regular job,
so Storm gets worked on late at night and for one day a weekend.
  - Alan Page
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 105       Tue Nov 09, 1993
FAIRWEATHER [David]          at 22:33 EST

Alan, re Z modem, I have NEVER been able to get it to work on my Falcon under
any circumstances, with or without long timeouts. For that matter I haven't
been able to X Modem to work either!  If anyone else has had success with
Storm downloading on their Falcons, I'd sure like to know how, for I have
tried it on a practically bare system with only FPATCH2 in the auto folder.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 106       Tue Nov 09, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 23:09 EST

Mike,

Thanks for the text on the serial fixes. I know I am dense sometimes, but
maybe you or Alan can explain (once more time!) the point of the serial fix,
especially since my TT doesn't have the broken routines that the ST has. I
realize that it's the RTS/CTS bug that serial fix fixes, but if I am NOT doing
RTS/CTS, why would I need that fix? Since Storm doesn't work (doing x, y, or
zmodem) in either X-on/X-off or RTS/CTS modes on my TT or my wife's ST, I am
not at all sure what serial fix would do to help (and, in fact, it didn't help
at all when I tried it).

Is this because I didn't have the CPX loaded? (And does the CPX need to be RAM-
resident?) What I am driving at is my inability to follow the logic of needing
a fix for hardware handshaing when I am not doing any hardware handshaking in
the term program.

Please understand that i am able to run four different telecomm apps
successfully, all in a row, with both software and hardware handshaking, and
then when I run Storm with the same settings it fails to do any transfers (and
locks up the system). This hardly sounds like I have a problem; Storm has a
problem.

Ron,

Glad to see you added a hangup command. Sorry, but I still find no reason to
change my point about the need for Storm, or any telecomm software, to have a
hangup command. A do-it-yourself one - as if it were an option - is not what I
am talking about. Hanging up the modem is not an option, period.

Alan,

Thanks again for continuing to look into this. The *only* problem I have had
is with the protocol transfers, and Storm is very promising.

Aal

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 107       Wed Nov 10, 1993
D.ALFONSO1 [D.ALFONSO]       at 00:08 EST

Paul,

re: the capture mode. It threw me, too.. When the capture is on the menu shows
"Capture off", meaning that if you click the menu selection, you'll be turning
it off (and vise-versa when it says "capture on"). I prefer the check mark
toggle method myself in the menus, it's a bit more obvious. you'll see the "+"
next to the CAPTURE in the main menu bar when it is on.

David
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 108       Wed Nov 10, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 00:42 EST

   Storm 1.00 has incorrect serial routines, which are only used if an ST has
a version of TOS before 1.4. The serial fix program 2.0 by Bruce Penner has a
special hook so I can use his serial routines directly on machines with TOS
versions prior to 1.4. Therefore,  regardless of whether you use CTS/RTS or
not, Storm 1.00 will only work on TOS < 1.4 if you use Bruce's program. The
CPX is irrelevant.
   In case you are curious, I made a mistake in the assembly code and the MFP
addresses were incorrect! The patch from 1.00 to 1.01 has been uploaded and
will fix that problem.
  I do not know why Zmodem is a problem for some people. I am putting debug
code into the Zmodem so I can track down the problem. One possibility is that
the serial buffer needs expanding. I do NOT do this in Storm because I believe
it's the sort of thing that should be done by a TSR, especially in a
multitasking situation. If Storm crashes with the serial buffer pointing into
its own memory, the whole system will get messed up.
  - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 109       Wed Nov 10, 1993
M.POCHE [Mick]               at 01:19 EST

Alan -

I for one haven't had any real problems with Storm since I've been using it. I
did get the memory allocation alert boxes when loading/running tokenized BASIC
programs in it, but your advice about adding a label and variable seem to have
cured that problem!

I really like what I've been able to do with it so far. I can see where the
number of bug reports and such may get a little disconcerning, but I believe
everyone who's tried Storm really likes it. That's why they want to get
everything working on their systems.

You should see quite a good number of shareware payments coming in (including
mine) RSN!

- Mick

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 110       Wed Nov 10, 1993
S.RAMIREZ                    at 01:23 EST

Hi, I just downloaded the STORM100.LZH and installed it on my Mega 4. When I
tried to dial a local BBS, nothing happened. Other than a dialog box telling
me that it was waiting for a connection, nothing happened. I didn't even hear
the modem dialing. I went to the modem options (or is that serial port
settings?) and noticed that I couldn't select the serial port (Modem 1 was
ghosted but I couldn't change it!). This is strange since I  am currently
using Flash and have had success loging on for quite some time. Can you please
tell me what I am doing wrong?

Thanks, Sam

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 111       Wed Nov 10, 1993
S.RAMIREZ                    at 01:30 EST

BTW, I forgot to mention in the last post that I have TOS 1.2 in my Machine.

Later, Sam
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 112       Wed Nov 10, 1993
CBARRON                      at 01:37 EST

Al F. serial fix 2.0 requires the cpy OR a program that reads its cookie and
changes it as it is documented near the end of the docs. If you have an older
version's acc. It might work as the structure pointed to in the cookie, looks
the same as the older versions, if so then that might get by the cpx
'problem'.  You do need some way to configure the auto program.

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 113       Wed Nov 10, 1993
H.WOLFE1 [Harvey]            at 01:41 EST

Alan, I am presently using the STalker/STeno combination.  However, as you may
recall, I used Flash for a long time and I was a big fan of it.  As a result,
I am starting to take a very close look at your new program; and, in fact,
I've already sent in the shareware fee.

Naturally, I've got some questions and a number of suggestions.  If it
matters, I have a TT with TOS 3.06 and I am using serial port 2.

1.    I'm running AUXINIT in my AUTO folder and I presently have it set for
about 30,000 bytes for each of sending and receiving.  My impression is that I
don't need it for STorm, but I'd like to confirm that.

2.   By any chance, does STorm have any way of communicating with STraight Fax
so that STorm can be used while STraight Fax is left in its auto receive mode?

3.   I strongly agree that you need an option to use the regular font in
STorm.

4.   I don't use any serial port fix program in my AUTO folder with STalker
since I am using serial port 2.  Do I need one with STorm?

5.   When I run STorm, I put ATZ in my modem initialization string. However, I
don't get any response from the modem when I run STorm. However, if I manually
send ATZ, I get the correct response, "OK".

6.   I use call waiting, so my normal dial string ends in *70 followed by a
pause of 1 second.  How do I insert a pause of 1 second into the STorm dial
string?

7.   I'd also like to see the "save" option work so that when a file is to be
overwritten, it is instead renamed *.BAK, and then the new file is written.

8.   Is it possible to have STorm run/use TT RAM.  I see that the flags
weren't set, but I was wondering if this was simply an oversight.

9.   Could you add at least some minimal ANSI capabilities?  As a bare
minimum, I'd at least like to be able to use the full screen editor in PC
Board bulletin boards.

10.  Another feature, I'd like to see added would be a "go to" a particular
line.

11.  I'd also like the ability to double click on a word and have it
highlighted.

12.  I also agree that you should add the ability to set the beginning and end
of a block using the keyboard.  Most of the time, the mouse is adequate, but
not if I want to define a multi-screen block.  As part of that, I would also
like some way to retain or recreate a highlighted block so that if I
accidentally messed up the ending point, I could then modify it without having
to recreate the entire block.  Once again, this is only a minor nuisance on a
small block, but it can be a major nuisance on a large block.

Thank you,

Harvey Wolfe

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 114       Wed Nov 10, 1993
J.MEEHAN3 [>> Joe M << ]     at 05:51 EST

Message    101, Tue Nov 09, 1993 M.EASTER [Mike]

 Mike,

    >  Yes.  I would love to have FS.  Right now I'm looking for a  <
    > program which  would call the file selector from the desktop  <
    > with a hotkey

         Do you have UIS.  Take a look at CallUIS.  Then get Pop-it or
 use CodeKeys to call CALLUIS.  (an accessory)


 >> Joe M <<

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 115       Wed Nov 10, 1993
M.EASTER [Mike]              at 09:46 EST

It must be frustrating for a programmer to be confronted with many different
opinions and personal likes/dislikes on each wishlist.

Al F. - re term prg must have hangup

I agree, but I like Alan's philosophy of "roll your own".

Harvey W. - re regular (8x16) font availability and .bak files

Thanks for your strong agreement on my similarly strong feelings on the font
choice issue.

However, I disagree about the desirability of .bak files.  The way I name my
files, the creation of .bak files is an annoyance and an inconvenience that
requires cleaning up after.  An option to give alerts during overwrites or not
would be the most intrusion I would want, and I would choose no alert in
almost all circumstances in this app.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 116       Wed Nov 10, 1993
C.HAYWARD [Clar]             at 18:17 EST

Alan...nice patch. Just one problem with turning off the cursor blink. If I
save it as a preference I get two bombs the next time I try to run Storm.

Clar


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 117       Wed Nov 10, 1993
W.HALLMAN                    at 19:19 EST

 E.SAKARA1>
        When using the STRT_1.BAS, it leaves room for an area code in the
number, just put 4 spaces behind the GEnie number in your dialing directory,
and all will be fine.

M.SAEGER>
        I think your ESC 1 problem is due to the space between the ESC and the
1. I tried this to be sure: edit the function key, (a control ; puts the esc
on the line) a space, then 1. (If you leave out the space you get the graphics
character.)  Then if you look in the STORMKEY.INI, you will see: Key="\33 1",
which should be correct.

re: Alan's answer in message 104. I know Alan is inundated with Email and
other problems, and his STORMKEY.INI probably had an ESC 1 key defined, but
the one included in the program release did not.

A.FASOLDT>
        I understand you being upset about the file transfer problems. But the
problem with the hangup command is a NON-problem. That's one of the best
features of STORM, allowing everyone to easily customize it, to have the
features they like, on the keys they prefer.

A.PAGE3>
        Sorry, but you will have to settle for a personal check. I have
checked with the bank, the credit union, and The United States Postal Service,
there are no Canadian money orders. The bank can issue an inter- national
check, for a $10 fee. The post office can issue an international money order,
for a $7 fee, which has to be sent to St. Louis, MO for processing. (I am in
Oklahoma City, OK) So I am just sending a personal check for $25.

                                         Bill

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 118       Wed Nov 10, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 20:36 EST

 S.RAMIREZ:
  You will need SERIALFX 2.0 or the patch program that I just uploaded last
night. (SERFX20.LZH #27506, forgot the number of the Storm patch!). Sorry for
the inconvenience.
 H.WOLFE1:
  Got your check today. Thanks! You were #3. J.L. of Waterloo, Ont. was first,
S.L. of White Rock, B.C. was second. No U.S. mail as yet, which is probably
due to mail being slow to cross the border.
 30,000 bytes is overkill. I don't use the program at all, but if I did, I
would only use a thousand or so bytes.
  I don't know how to communicate with Straight Fax. If the author has any
information, or you or anyone can point me to a file with information, I would
be more than pleased to look into it.
  I don't have a definitive list of which versions of TOS contain what serial
bugs. I have developer notes that way that the TT serial code had problems
with the extra ports and a program called SERPTCH1.PRG fixed it. I have TOS
3.05, perhaps they fixed it in 3.06?? Try without and see.
  Storm has the architecture to allow a different font for each window. It
just lacks 1) user interface or Basic commands to set it, and 2) I didn't
include the 8x8 and 8x16 fonts.
  I actually use the IBM character set for characters above 127. You might
notice that if you load a file containing line drawing characters into Storm,
you can actually see the line drawing characters on screen. Do people really
want the ST 8x16 font, or would they prefer the 8x16 font but retaining the
line drawing and graphics characters from the IBM type font?
  In any case, the registered shareware version will contain multiple fonts
and the ability to set fonts for the capture, typeahead, and editor. The
terminal fonts will always be setup through the terminal emulation modules.
e.g. the VIDTEX lets you choose the 8x8 font if you are in ST meduim
resolution.
   The vast majority of modems let you use a comma for a two second pause.
Some also accept '/' for a .125 second pause. Try putting a comma after the
*70.
 One of the longer term goals for Storm is to allow the running of dialog
boxes from Basic and then hooking them into the program. So, for example, you
could set up your own dialog box or alert to be activated when a file is
saved. I cannot promise that I will have all the details worked out for the
first registered shareware release, but that is the direction I am working
towards. That would avoid the problem of having a dozen options to satisfy
everyone. People could then pick and choose their own.
  An alternative would be a loadable module that would handle some interface
chores. Harder for people to program, but easier for me to write.
  I have no TT ram in my TT, but I see no reason why Storm should not use TT
ram. Please try it and let me know.
  VT100 has many ANSI features, but may not be completely compatible. That is
something I will be looking in to. Please try it and report what happens. Be
sure to log on with 8-bits, no parity and set  "Mask High Bit" off in the
serial settings.
 GOTO label does exist in Storm Basic. You will see it used in some of the
sample files. Also, ON x gosub label1,label2,label3, etc and the ON
(expression) GOTO label1,label2, etc. work. All you need is a label, which is
any word at the start of a line, followed by a colon character. naturally, you
can't use a Basic keyword!
 W.HALLMAN:
  The ESC1 is a bug, which I have fixed in the patch and mentioned in a
previous message how to get around. Your method will work as well, since it
works around the bug.
  I prefer money orders, but my bank is perfectly happy to cash U.S. checks -
it just takes quite a few weeks for it to clear. And I am quite happy to
recieve a check in any currency!
  I think I have some clues about the file transfer problems. I added some
debug code and the Zmodem started to act up as described in some messages. It
may be related to using too much stack in supervisor mode and I will
investigate to see what routine may be causing the problem, and how to solve
it. Perhaps some versions of TOS, or hard disk drivers, or whatever, are using
extra supervisor stack and the combination of that and Storm causes a
disaster. That would explain why some people are having no problems, and
others cannot get it to work at all.
  I will continue to investigate on the weekend - too much work to do during
the week.
  - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 119       Wed Nov 10, 1993
M.EASTER [Mike]              at 21:15 EST

Joe - re UIS and other suggestions

I want to be able to run a program by doubleclicking it, like I would when I
get a file selector from Flash's gem or exe commands; or like I would from
ArcShell's disk utility "run program" function; but I want to be able to call
the file selector from the desktop, instead of within those programs; and I
want to be able to call the file selector with a hotkey, as opposed to an
accessory.

Mike Easter

(Excuse off topic :-)
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 120       Wed Nov 10, 1993
S.LYSTER [Stu Lyster]        at 21:21 EST

Another fairly minor thing about Storm....

The Dialer window.  Sometimes it can be moved (by the top-bar) and sometimes
it can't.  I cannot figure rhyme nor reason as to when it will and when it
won't.  On loading, and dialing directly after the load... clicking in the
Terminal Window does not bring it 'in front' of the Dialer Window... but when
finished dialing, then clicking the Terminal Window off, then the Dialer
Window is moveable.

Another incredibly minor thing... if the Terminal Window is either off, or
slid-down the screen, then you can click on the Dialer Window to bring it 'in
front', but it also pops back to its original 'pop-up' position (after calling
for the Dialer) no matter where on the screen it was.

Call me anal-retentive.  Go ahead.  I probably listened too carefully when my
Grade 3 teacher said, 'neatness counts'.  It's still a great program, though.

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 121       Wed Nov 10, 1993
M.EASTER [Mike]              at 22:09 EST

Alan - re which 8x16 font, ST or IBM?

Doesn't matter to me, I'll take either.  I guess I would prefer ST, for
tradition.

Patch?  Did Clar get the patch already?  No show in library as of 931110 18:17
PST.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 122       Thu Nov 11, 1993
STARFALL [Alan]              at 00:31 EST

        I have Codehead's Warp 9 setting the fonts for me, so if you could
just let the draw text commands fall through to it, that would be fine with
me.  Or at least make it an option.

      /
  /  *  /  Alan
 *     *
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 123       Thu Nov 11, 1993
NEVIN-S                      at 12:23 EST

I'll volunteer to be a beta tester for Wyse 50. Where would I find a manual
for this emulation, or is that something you would take up on your end??

Thanks for listening...!

--Nevin

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 124       Thu Nov 11, 1993
R.WATSON15 [Wayne Watson]    at 18:28 EST

   I always suggest my customers run Serial Fix 2.0 no matter what
 version of TOS they have. It is a little bit of security for a small
 amount of RAM. The reason is, I have TOS 2.06 and it is SUPPOSED to
 have the fixed serial port routines in it BUT, if I don't use Serial
 Fix 2.0, I get a lot of Repositioning Errors using Zmodem at high
 speeds.

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 125       Thu Nov 11, 1993
W.HALLMAN [Bill]             at 19:14 EST



    Just a little more on the hangup key. I have my modem set to ignore the
DTR (allows rebooting, etc, without loosing the connection), so the command I
use for the hangup key is:
          SEND "+";:SEND "+";:SEND "+";:PAUSE 1:SEND "ATH":END This shows,
again, how flexible STORM is in customizing to suit the user.

                                            Bill


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 126       Thu Nov 11, 1993
E.SAKARA1                    at 19:34 EST

Well. I've solved my problem using STORM DIAL command to access GENIE but I'm
now even more puzzled.

First - the problem.  When I tried to access GENIE from the DIAL menu my modem
would dial two digits and then stop dialing.  Eventually the phone company
would cut in with a recording (this is a local call for me).

The solution - my serial port set up was set for EVEN parity.  GENIE specifies
NONE.  When I made this change the phone number is now being dialed correctly.

Anyone have any guesses why this seeminly minor change would fix my problem?

P.S. I was able to connect to GENIE by using the supplied BAS script
  STRT_1.BAS (in the original STORM file).  This should have been
  using the same DIALDIR.INI info that the MENU command accesses.

Oh well, one more hurdle overcome.

PPS I like STORM and am busy convertying all my FLASH DO files to BAS.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 127       Thu Nov 11, 1993
S.GARRIGUS [Scott]           at 19:50 EST

Hi all!

For those of you having problems on system w/TOS 1.0, I might be able to help.
Like you, I was having problems dialing and also with the transfer protocols
but I've seemed to solve them.  Actually xmodem is still not working but both
ymodem and zmodem are.

I'm using Serial Fix 2.0 with the CPX.  The CPX is in MultiDesk Deluxe and is
not resident but does get initialized.  My STORM.INI file is as follows:


[Capture] WarnSave=1 WrapFile=2 DisableMacros=0 TabSize=4 WrapCol=77 Capture=1

[Dialer] Connect=3 Redials=1 Entries=60

[Paths] Default=D:\STORM100\BASIC\*.* Terminal=D:\STORM100\*.EMU
Download=D:\STORM100\DOWNLOAD\*.* Protocol=D:\STORM100\*.TRF
Logon=D:\STORM100\BASIC\*.BAS

[Protocols] Xfer1=D:\STORM100\ZMODEM.TRF Xfer0=D:\STORM100\XYMODEM.TRF

[ZMODEM] DLFileManage=0 ULFileManage=0 Options=18

[XYMODEM] FullPath=0 WarnOverwrite=1 LongTimeouts=1 CRC=1

[ASCII] PauseValue=0 Prompt= ExpandBlank=0 CtrlZ=0 AddLF=0 StripLF=0 Pause=0
Prompting=0

[Terminal] Title=15 Term0=D:\STORM100\VT100.EMU Current=VT100 ReverseVideo=0
BS_Erases=1 LocalEcho=0 LineWrap=1 AddFeedsOut=0 AddFeedsIn=0

[Serial Ports] SerialMask=127 PortMap=6,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1 COM0:=4,0,0,1,1 Port=0

[VT100] Reset=00000000110

[Typeahead] Suffix= Prefix= XmitKey=7181 AddCR=1

[Modem] Init="ATZ" Prefix="ATL1\r\rATDT*70," Suffix="\r" Timeout=30 Delay=25
Connect1="CONNECT" Connect2= Fail1="BUSY" Fail2="NO CARRIER" Fail3= Fail4=
UseDCD=1


Also...

1. I like being able to define my own dialing key.  I think it's great like it
is.

2. No .BAK files.  They just clutter up my hard drive.  If you'd like to
include an option for it, that's fine.

3. What's so bad about a blinking cursor?  I like it just fine.


Hope all this helps!

 Scott
 SRG Music & Software

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 128       Thu Nov 11, 1993
C.HAYWARD [Clar]             at 20:43 EST

S.GARRIGUS...Message 127

Scott, there's nothing wrong with a blinking cursor in itself.

It's just that personally with certain blinks I get sick to my stomach.

When this happens the software goes if I can't turn off or change the blink
rate and I don't want to throw out Storm.

Clar





 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 129       Thu Nov 11, 1993
S.GARRIGUS [Scott]           at 20:51 EST

Hi all!

I forgot to mention in my last post that I also set all my Storm files for
Fastload OFF.  I'm not sure if this makes a difference but you never know.

I also wanted to mention that I just tried the new patch program and for those
that are having trouble be sure to set Fastload back to ON for the files being
patched otherwise the program will not recognize them.  After your done
patching you can set the Fastload bits back to OFF.

Hope this helps!

 Scott
 SRG Music & Software

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 130       Thu Nov 11, 1993
S.GARRIGUS [Scott]           at 20:57 EST

Hi Clar!

I didn't mean to sound rude or insensitive.  I can understand if you don't
like the blinking.  And now with the new patch in the library we can both have
our choice.  Yeah!

I read a message elsewhere too that a blinking cursor can cause problems with
people who have epilepsy.  I never knew that.  I'm glad Alan decided to make
it an option.

Anyway, check out the new patch program that Alan uploaded.  It fixes it.
Though I think that the Terminal window is still unadjustable. He's supposed
to fix this as well later on.

Cheers!

 Scott
 SRG Music & Software

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 131       Thu Nov 11, 1993
R.WHITTAM [Ron - ABUG]       at 21:04 EST

 Alan, a wish list. . .

 Maybe its already been said, but here I go:

 1.  VT-52 (alone) emulation.
 2.  ANSI BBS emulation (enhansed VT-100, right?)
 3.  "Hang Up" on the drop down menu, (the Alt-H is nice, but it loads
     a basic program to execute it).
 4.  IBM 3101 Terminal Emulation (real wishful thinking, eh?)
 5.  Default dialing... (double click "dial" on the drop down menu and
     STORM! dials the last number dialed).

My money is "in the mail" and we will be doing a STORM! demo at our next users
group meeting--expect more sales then.  For some reason (probably no dealer
nearby) the group is on a modeming trend.  We have revived the local ROVER BBS
for Atari users in Boise, and many of our members are looking at
MicroWarehouse's $99.00 deal on 1.44 modems. . . all to say, "keep up the good
work, the market is getting larger."

 Ron - ABUG
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 132       Thu Nov 11, 1993
D.CRANO [Big D]              at 22:00 EST

ALan,

Here is just what you do not need to hear, but thought I better say something
any way  ;^).....

I D/loaded you patch file.. Preformed as directed, it said all was OK and
validated... Loaded up Storm and had a new version, just as stated..  Changed
a few things quit Storm, saved the configs.. Now when I try to load Storm I
get 2 to 4 bombs..... Redid the upgrade and tried again, everything runs just
fine till I save the configs and try to reload Storm, bombs again... So I made
and saved each one of my changes till I found the one that is bombing Storm...
It is the statement in Storm.Ini that says Blink=0. As long as it is anything
other than Blink=0, you can even take it out completely and it will work
fine... Atleast for me, I do not know if anyone else is having this problem,
but I can turn the blinking cursor off, but can not save the config that way
or I can not boot Storm.....

As for file transfers eveything seems to work fine except Zmodem uploads... I
have a BBS and it uses XYZ.TTP for it's file transfers and have upload and
download with every protocal that I can use in Storm. Everything seems to work
fine, even Zmodem download, but here is what I have found with Zmodem
Uploading... I hope this will help you in some way or another....   I can
actually Zmodem Upload small files with no problem, but if the file is over
50k, then it will not go... What happens is as the file is being uploaded the
window will start to show read errors, after about 3 or 4 blocks it will show
read errors =1 then after 3 or 4 more read errors=2 and so on till it reaches
read errors = 6.. At this point Storm will quite sending and the receiving end
will time out.... So if the file is small enough to be sent before read errors
= 6 they will be sent complete with no problems.... Now I am not sure what you
mean by read error, if it is supposed to be a CRC checksum, then the errors a
false because the receiving program does not ask for a resend while they are
adding up in the transfer window of Storm.. Also speaking of these errors, I
notice that when I download Zmodem after about 20-30k I will get a write error
or two, but the file still comes through and there are no block
resends........

While I am at it I would also like to let you know that the vertical slider
bar on the windows is so sensitive that it is really hard to just click and
page down one screen, I almost always go two screens, unles I make a real
effort to click as fast a I possibly can, then I can get just one
page..........

I hope this helps you in some way....

 Thanks,
 Don....

Almost forgot, I am running a MegaSTe with TOS 2.06

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 133       Thu Nov 11, 1993
R.WATSON15 [Wayne Watson]    at 23:57 EST

 Big D,
   For those excess page movements, try Scroll Fix or Button Fix. This
 is a bug in TOS (actually I am not sure if it is a bug) but, it is a
 product of TOS. The fixes will help cure this problem.

   Large receive and transmit buffers are just about required for high
 speed transfers.

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 134       Fri Nov 12, 1993
T.MCCOMB [=Tom=]             at 01:06 EST

I can confirm the Blink problem in the STORM.INI file.  Bombs away.

Also... am I missing something (it's late) but is there a way to print
anything from inside Storm?

 -Tom McComb
  {1:01 am}  Friday, November 12, 1993


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 135       Fri Nov 12, 1993
J.MEEHAN3 [>> Joe M << ]     at 04:50 EST

Message    133, Thu Nov 11, 1993 R.WATSON15 [Wayne Watson]

     >   For those excess page movements, try Scroll Fix or Button   <
    > Fix.                                                          <

         At least one of the CodeHead utilities (Warp9 and/or
 MaxiFile) has the fix built in.

 >> Joe M <<

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 136       Fri Nov 12, 1993
J.MEEHAN3 [>> Joe M << ]     at 04:58 EST

        Make that MultiDesk!  <grin>   There's a button to turn it
 off or on in the configuration screen.

 >> Joe M <<

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 137       Fri Nov 12, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 06:22 EST

Alan,

When I run the patch program on my TT, a dialog pops up to tell me I do not
have the right version of Storm 1.00. I do, of course.

I'll try patching it on the ST tomorrow.

Al

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 138       Fri Nov 12, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 09:31 EST

Nevin/Alan,

I think I can find some help on the Wyse emulation. I'll scrounge around this
weekend.


All,

One more reiteration (a re-reiteration, maybe) in regard to the hangup
command. I review software, do my own programming, have a lot of experience in
telecommunications, have run BBSes for a decade, and write about telecomm
software and telecomm techniques, so I'm not just expressing some sort of odd
personal view when I say that ANY telecomm software that arrives on my
computer without a hangup command is missing something, period. I realize the
user can add the hangup command - I've hacked all sorts of extra commands into
software for years, and that's not the point ... *surely* that is not the
point here. The program should have a hangup command built in.

As one of the biggest fans of Flash on Earth, as those who have read my
"Secrets of Flash" will understand, I have immense respect for Al Page's
talents, so this is not a misdirected criticism toward some sort of fledgling
programmer who needs to go back to his C++ manual or anything like that. Storm
is brilliant, but a serious telecomm program that arrives without a hangup
command is like a car whose ignition key will not shut off. Sure, the driver
can rig up a zip cord through the firewall to do what should have been done at
the factory, but the real question is this: Why was it left off the car in the
fIs  $\ ace?

Again, I have not seen another telecomm program without a hangup command, and
I have seen something like 60 to 70 in the last few years, for many different
platforms, both as part of my job in evaluating software for use at the
newspaper and in my reviews of software for local readers and the wire
service. Frankly, if a PC telecomm program arrived at my desk with the hangup
command missing, I wouldn't even install it to test it. I have the same
approach to text editors that are missing essential features.

If this is a crazy attitude, I'd like to hear why.

Al

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 139       Fri Nov 12, 1993
K.ESTES [Kenne@SFRT]         at 13:16 EST

How do I change my password in the .ini file?
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 140       Fri Nov 12, 1993
ARCHIVIST [Charlie]          at 14:48 EST

Tom, yes you can print, clip, save or transmitt any block of text from  Storm.
Just mark a block in one of the capture buffers. As soon as you release the
mouse a dialoge box will pop up giving you several options of what to do with
that block; it's a very nice feature of Storm, IMHO.

Kenne, load the .BAS file into the capture buffer and edit/save it from there
to change your password. That's the easist way I can think of....

Charlie/sysop
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 141       Fri Nov 12, 1993
R.WATSON15 [Wayne Watson]    at 18:04 EST

 Al,
   Did you turn the Fastload bits off? If so, you will need to turn
 them on to do the patch.

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 142       Fri Nov 12, 1993
R.WATSON15 [Wayne Watson]    at 19:16 EST

 Al,
   Personally, I think you are making to much out of it. :-) A hangup
 command is built in. It's just user definable as to what key sequence
 executes it.

   I prefer the ability to setup up programs like this. It is really
 nice for people that use a program for years and get used to a certain
 key sequence that hangs up. Now, if Alan decided to use a key
 sequence that he chose, you would the have to re-learn the key
 sequence to hang up (if it was different).

   Programs that allow this kind of flexability are nice because you
 do not have to re-learn key sequences.

   No matter what a programmer does, someone is not going to like
 something. You have to go with the majority and I believe the
 majority has said they don't mind it or they like it.

   BTW, you asked! :-) :-)  The first sentence is just feedback.

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 143       Fri Nov 12, 1993
W.HALLMAN [Bill]             at 19:58 EST

 A.FASOLDT>
    re: hangup command

    Well, maybe not crazy, just a little paranoid. :^)

Seriously, we have all read and do appreciate your articles and reviews. I
have been using terminal programs longer than GEnie and Compuserve have been
around. I remember several that had no built in commands, at all. Everything
had to be typed in from the keyboard. I am not saying that you are wrong about
needing a hangup command. But, I do think it is better to be able configure it
the way I want it. Perhaps, if Alan had put one on the ALT H key before
releasing the program, as he did with a few other ALT keys, everything would
have been a bit smoother.


                                       Bill


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 144       Fri Nov 12, 1993
M.EASTER [Mike]              at 21:19 EST

Al - re hangup key issue

While I respect your expertise and experience highly, my vote is with Alan
Page on this issue; and it would still be even if he were a programmer of
considerably lesser stature.

I don't think your analogy of the absent car ignition key is accurate; more
accurate would be buying a new car without the number one AM "power" station
programmed into the first radio button.

You must surely agree that the ability to "roll your own" is valuable, so your
argument comes down to the fact that you think there should be a special
hangup key _in addition_ to the ability to configure your own.

One of your favorite telecom programs, Flash, has no such hangup key; but
instead relies on a command, HG, to accomplish its task.  Although it does
have a break signal key (Shft-Clr Home) it is not configurable.
Configurability seems a clear advantage to me.

The only disadvantage to configurability is that a hangup was not provided in
the INI file in the Storm file, and a neophyte would have to do a little
"programming" to have a hangup key.  I regard that omission as an oversight on
Alan's part.  But you are no novice, so it seems to me that your arguments are
philosophical rather than "real" in terms of functionality, and those of us
with much less expertise and experience get to "philosophize" right along with
you.

An excellent example of the weakness of a non-configurable hangup key was
given by Bill Hallman, who has his modem configured to ignore the DTR.  Having
a hangup key which toggles the DTR is useless to him while in that mode, and
he provided an example of how his hangup key works.

Mike Easter
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 145       Fri Nov 12, 1993
K.ESTES [Kenne@SFRT]         at 21:19 EST

The account and pasword info are not saved in the .BAS file. I know, I looked.
They're saved in the .INI file and they are _slightly_ encrypted.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 146       Fri Nov 12, 1993
H.WOLFE1 [Harvey]            at 22:26 EST

 > However, I disagree about the desirability of .bak files.  The way
 > I name my files, the creation of .bak files is an annoyance and an
 > inconvenience that requires cleaning up after.  An option to give
 > alerts during overwrites or not would be the most intrusion I would
 > want, and I would choose no alert in almost all circumstances in
 > this app.

 Mike, what I'd like to see would be an option to have the program
 automatically create backup files.  If the option weren't selected, then
 the program would just overwrite existing files and and if it were
 selected, then it would first create a backup file.  That way it would
 provide both of us with the features we want.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 147       Fri Nov 12, 1993
H.WOLFE1 [Harvey]            at 22:27 EST

 Alan, first I wanted to let you know that I also had the same problem
 with trying to save a configuration with the non blinking cursor.  Until
 I changed the number back to 0, my computer kept crashing every time I
 booted STorm.

 Secondly, I just thought of another feature that I'd like to see in the
 registered version.  This would be a sort capability in the dialing
 directory.

 >  30,000 bytes is overkill. I don't use the program at all, but if I
 > did, I would only use a thousand or so bytes.

 Alan, for some time, I've had the impression that, if a
 telecommunications program was going to work in the background, then a
 large buffer was required, i.e with 14400 baud modems, even RTS/CTS just
 isn't fast enough.  From what you're saying, I get the impression that
 STorm may handle this better than STalker.

 Once, Zmodem is working, I'll try it out with AUXINIT disabled and see
 what happens.

 By the way, I downloaded one file with Zmodem and everything seemed to
 work perfectly.  Then when I checked the file, it showed that it was 0
 bytes long.

 >   I don't know how to communicate with Straight Fax. If the author
 > has any information, or you or anyone can point me to a file with
 > information, I would be more than pleased to look into it.

 Right after I left my message, I saw another message which seemed to
 indicate that it was impossible at this time.

 >   I actually use the IBM character set for characters above 127.
 > You might notice that if you load a file containing line drawing
 > characters into Storm, you can actually see the line drawing
 > characters on screen. Do people really want the ST 8x16 font, or
 > would they prefer the 8x16 font but retaining the line drawing and
 > graphics characters from the IBM type font?

 I'd prefer that you retain the IBM type characters.  Even without ANSI
 graphics, right now I can see any of the special characters and I
 certainly wouldn't want to lose that feature.

 >    The vast majority of modems let you use a comma for a two second
 > pause.  Some also accept '/' for a .125 second pause. Try putting a
 > comma after the *70.

 Thanks, it's been so long since I've changed that string that I'd
 forgotten that was part of the modem codes.

 >   I have no TT ram in my TT, but I see no reason why Storm should
 > not use TT ram. Please try it and let me know.

 Will do.

 >   VT100 has many ANSI features, but may not be completely
 > compatible. That is something I will be looking in to. Please try
 > it and report what happens. Be sure to log on with 8-bits, no
 > parity and set  "Mask High Bit" off in the serial settings.

 I just tried it, but it didn't work.  All the ANSI graphics commands are
 just showing up as character strings, rather than as commands.  For
 instance, in the full screen text editor, the terminal screen should be
 cleared, than the cursor should be moved to the top of the screen.  This
 does not happen.  Similarly, there are no colour changes on the screen.

 Thanks,

 Harvey
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 148       Fri Nov 12, 1993
EXPLORER.1 [] Ron []         at 22:38 EST

Al & Alan,

The patch program worked fine with the TT on this end.

How about an including "example" keyboard macro file that includes a hang-up
command?

    -- Ron



 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 149       Fri Nov 12, 1993
D.CRANO [Big D]              at 23:19 EST

Alan and Wayne Watson,

As to the excessive page movements on the scroll bars... This is really not a
bug, but a change in the way the message pipe is handled... I know about
Button Fix and it is a good program for all the older software that will not
be upgraded to fix the problem.. But since Storm is a new peice of software I
figured Alan would want to know about it....

As far as the transfer problem goes it like I said I did hundreds of transfers
trying to find anything I could that might help Alan. I did not say everything
I tried, but just gave the results... I tried transfering from 300 to 14400
with the stock TOS buffer to buffers as far as I could go with auxint... Still
the same on uploads once you hit the Read Errors = 6 that is the end of the
transfer.....

  Later,
  Big D

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 150       Sat Nov 13, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 00:26 EST

 >>computer without a hangup command is missing something, period. I  <<
  >>realize the  user can add the hangup command - I've hacked all     <<
  >>sorts of extra commands  into software for years, and that's not   <<
  >>the point ... *surely* that is not  the point here. The program    <<
  >>should have a hangup command built in.                             <<

 IT DOES.  Your complaint is a quibble, and a really TRIVIAL one.  Had
 Alan included the Alt-H specification, you would never have noticed.
   The program offers configurability of a rare extent, and you choose
 to see only the apparant lack of an essential command.  I added it
 within 5 minutes of loading The Storm.


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 151       Sat Nov 13, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 00:32 EST

    Thank you all for the comments and feedback. I am pretty busy with my job,
but hope to find a few hours this weekend to work on Storm.

    If I don't address your comment directly, that doesn't mean I am ignoring
it.

    I goofed on the cursor blink and didn't test it thorougly. Sorry about
that.

I will look into the dialer/dialer window issue and test the dialer with
parity on.

    Currently STORM does its own fonts, but in a very GEM-compatible manner
that doesn't involve messing around with system-specific stuff. I will always
have to retain my own font handling for the terminal screen, but will consider
the possibility of letting the other windows use the default GEM font.

    At some future date I intend to release the source code for the terminal
emulations, so knowledgable people can write their own or customize the
existing ones. I am not releasing the code now because 1) it's not well
commented, and 2) I may still want to make fundamental changes to how they
terminal emulations work.

    I am willing to look at other terminal emulations but I need good
documentation. e.g. for the VT100 I used to have an actual VT100 reference
manual from DEC. Without something that lists all the escape sequences and
what they do, I don't have a chance.

    If you mess with FASTLOAD or other program flags, then the start of
STORM.PRG gets altered and the checksum will be wrong.

    Regarding the HANGUP controversy. How about if I add a "HANGUP" item to
the DIAL menu, then in the modem settings dialog have a field where you can
enter a Basic command to hangup the modem?

    To change the password, either edit STORM.INI to remove the "Password="
line from the [GEnie] section, or type the following command in Storm Basic:
 SET "STORM","GEnie","Password",""
    Then load and run GENIE.BAS again. The program will figure out you don't
have a password and should prompt you for it.

Harvey,
    VT100 doesn't support colored text unfortunately. That is something that
need to be supported in the core of Storm's terminal routines. I'll be working
on it over the next couple of months and let you know when it's ready to test.

    I goofed on some of the keyboard macro values in my CHANGES.DOC. The ones
that use the shift key require a '3' in front of the value.

    To scroll up/down one page of text in the editor, use shift-up and shift-
down, rather than the scroll bars. Also, Clr/Home moves to the beginning,
shift-Clr/Home moves to the end.

    - Alan

 P.S. The "Hangup" in the Modem Init dialog would of course have a default
string that would toggle DTR on and off.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 152       Sat Nov 13, 1993
T.MCCOMB [=Tom=]             at 00:47 EST

Charlie-

I knew that! Seriously, it was late.  I wanted to print the capture buffer and
couldn't find a print option!  Ofcourse I didn't have a block marked.
 Silly me.

Thanks!

 -Tom McComb
  {5:30 pm}  Friday, November 12, 1993


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 153       Sat Nov 13, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 00:55 EST

Wayne,

I turned the fastload bits on and off, off and on, on both the TT and the ST
here, and the patch program says I have the wrong version of Storm. Harump. is
it possible that Alan's programs are having a problem with a version of ICD's
software? I have not had a problem like this before, with any other software,
so I don't think it's something amiss at this end. At any rate, I'm looking
for a kind soul willing to send the entire revised version of Storm my way,
since I cannot patch it.

Mike,

Flash does, of course, have a hangup method, as you point out. Storm does not.
Am I missing something here? Software that requires the user to create a
hangup command is OK? No, it's not. I like what I have been able to use of
Storm - like it a lot, in fact. For heaven's sake, liking it doesn't blind me
to a gaffe.

(Enough of this soapboxing! Let's celebrate this new telecomm program and help
Al Page get it cleaned up!)

:)

Al

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 154       Sat Nov 13, 1993
R.WHITTAM [Ron - ABUG]       at 01:04 EST

Al -

I agree.  However, it seems that many are making a huge issue of the
suggestion to include a HANG UP command in STORM!.  What's the deal? If Alan
wants to spend the time to satisfy a few users at no expense to others, who
cares?  I am sure that adding a HANG UP option on the DIAL menu wouldn't
cancel out the option to create your own macro or Alt-Key sequence.

I think Al has a right to his opinion AND to provide Alan with a logical and
legit reason for his request.  It seems that some are actually requesting that
Alan NOT put in an option on the GEM menu. Again, what's the deal?

In agreement with Al, there are probably a lot of people who will use STORM!
that have NEVER used BASIC and have no inclination to learn. Making these
people learn basic (at least four lines of BASIC) just to be able to hang up
the modem is streatching it a bit.  For us technical people, its a piece of
cake. . . but for others who will be buying Falcons because of Atari's renewed
popularity, a simple HANG UP option will be a great assest to an already great
product.

That's my opinion, thanks for listening.

 Ron - ABUG
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 155       Sat Nov 13, 1993
J.TRAUTSCHOL [jtrautschold]  at 01:05 EST

I think what Al is trying to say here is that any telecom program that runs in
a "windows" type of enviroment should have a hangup command as a part of the
menu structure.  Although there are a lot of folks that prefer using
keystrokes for commands there are also a large number of folks that prefer to
use the mouse to activate commands.

Flash II, for example, provides many ways to send a hangup.  "HG" can be sent
from either a script, macro or the terminal command line. Alt-H can also be
used from terminal mode or the user can switch to the editor and click on
"Terminate Call" in the appropriate menu.

                                                John T.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 156       Sat Nov 13, 1993
G.ROUSH [Gary Roush]         at 01:34 EST

Great program!

I had a problem with the patch upgrade to version 1.1 and read the messages on
here and found others had the same problem and alas found it was the blink=0
problem.  I just did that and  changed it from 0 to 1 and I can now load the
program without getting the two bombs.

I have had no problems at all with everything as far as I know. I have been
able to capture messages on different files with no problem.  It just takes
getting used to.  It would be nice to  have names for each capture window
instead of the unknown name as it is now until you do a save as and then you
have the title the name you want it.  It would be nice to have a feature to
name the window on the fly perhaps from the window menu bar and choose
something from there to put in a name for the window.

Again, it's a great program and at last it is here.  Keep it up and thanks for
the comments and help.  Now I can use version 1.1 again, but hope to see the
fix soon so I can turn the blinking off cause I can't stand it.  Oh well....

Gary
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 157       Sat Nov 13, 1993
MIKE-ALLEN [NM~SysOp]        at 01:37 EST

in re the Hang-up command controversy:  I have to agree with Al F. on this
one.

It is obvious that most folks commenting on STorm are "power" (or at least
semi-power) users.  For you folks it is easy to "roll your own" hang-up macro.
I submit, however, that Joe (or Jane) Averageuser doesn't know DTR from dinner
and probably doesn't want (or should need) to.  For this person, a little menu
drop down that says "Hang Up" is what is needed for those cases where he/she
gets lost and just wants to hang up the phone line.

Al is certainly a "power" user, but he never seems to forget the average
guy/gal that just wants to USE the computer without having to know a great
deal about the "innards," one of the great strengths of the Atari line.

Just my opinion,

        Mike Allen
        ST HelpDesk~Sysop

        Written: 11:06 PM Mountain Time
                 Friday, November 12, 1993

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 158       Sat Nov 13, 1993
K.ESTES [Kenne@SFRT]         at 01:50 EST

How about a template that makes logons easier?
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 159       Sat Nov 13, 1993
CBARRON                      at 02:29 EST

  Al F. I have same problem. Patch refuses to patch storm 1.00. oh well...
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 160       Sat Nov 13, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 07:12 EST

All,

Hooray! I got the Storm patch to work (to work patching Storm, at least ... I
haven't tried the newer version yet). You must have the fastload bit set and
the MTOS "super" mode bit set for the patch to work.

Al

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 161       Sat Nov 13, 1993
R.HOEKSTRA1 [RandyH]         at 12:10 EST

Alan or anyone,

I have patched the Storm files to version 1.01 and though it seems to be an
improvement in most areas, I am completely stuck with file transfers.

Now, anytime I try to do a file transfer, after the initial window comes up
the whole system locks up.  The only way out is to reboot. I really like
Storm, but I need to have file transfers and in particular Zmodem working to
make use of it.

I have a Mega 4 with TOS 1.4, serfial fix 2.0, Geneva, NeoDesk, and Warp9.  I
have tried stripping the system down to bare bones and various combinations of
the above, but it is always the same.  Am I missing something here, or is this
a major bug?

Thanks,
 RandyH
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 162       Sat Nov 13, 1993
R.HOEKSTRA1 [RandyH]         at 13:34 EST

Well, never mind about the file transfer problems I just posted. After moving
the 1.01 version files to the Falcon and finding YMODEM worked fine, I erased
the STORM.INI file on the Mega and started from scratch.  After setting things
up again, I tried YMODEM and it worked just fine.  Still no go on the ZMODEM,
but at least it doesn't lock the machine up.

RandyH
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 163       Sat Nov 13, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 13:50 EST

Mike Allen,

I have a special place in my heart for newcomers to the computer world who ask
me, "8-N-WHAT?" I had to start out at the same place they did, at the bottom
of the knowledge and experience ladder; luckily, I began with a dreamboat
computer, the Atari XL, and didn't have to struggle with the sort of thing
that DOS users are still coping with.

The only real peeve I have is the cloistered approach universities have toward
their staff when it comes to teaching them how to use a personal computer of
any kind (whether an old PC, a Unix box, a NeXT like Cornell has, or a TT, as
can be found here also): To these unbeknighted folks, Kermit is THE telecomm
protocol, and nothing else exists. I have spent a total of hundreds of hours
in the last decade explaining to Kermit users that, no, they can't use Kermit
to upload via ASCII. (My newspaper BBS accepts texts only via ASCII, to made
sure I can filter out all unfriendly control characters and high-order codes
at the input.)

As for the hungup command, Alan Page is busy enough. Why don't some of the
enthusiasts here create keyboard macros for a dozen different functions and
send them to Alan so he can include them with Storm's next release? (And they
could be sent here, too, for those of us who are trying out Storm right now.)

Carl,

Make sure the fastload bit is on and the "Super" but (for MTOS) is on. I had
turned both of them off when I extracted Storm, and that was my problem.

Al

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 164       Sat Nov 13, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 14:19 EST

 >>  In agreement with Al, there are probably a lot of people who     <<
  >>will use  STORM!  that have NEVER used BASIC and have no           <<
  >>inclination to learn. Making  these people learn basic (at least   <<
  >>four lines of BASIC) just to be able to  hang up the modem is      <<
  >>streatching it a bit.  For us technical people, its a              <<

 The easy solution is the provide a configured STORM.INI file set that
 includes an Alt-H spec to hang up.  Most users will never know, or
 care, that it is written in Storm Basic, and those who DO will know
 that they can modify it, or change it to another keystroke.  Should
 make everyone (except maybe Al -GRIN) happy.


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 165       Sat Nov 13, 1993
S.GARRIGUS [Scott]           at 14:33 EST

Hi Alan!

I just thought I'd let you know... I tried uploading with Ymodem and it
uploaded the file just fine but when uploading was done Storm just continued
to count the elapsed time and then finally bombed instead of stopping when the
upload was finished.  Zmodem is working great!

Thanks!

 Scott
 SRG Music & Software

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 166       Sat Nov 13, 1993
M.POCHE [Mick]               at 14:51 EST

Alan -

Although I've had more success with Storm that some others here online, I have
run into one little annoyance, and have a suggestion too.

I know you're working on the ZModem module and all, just wanted to let you
know that I can't seem to get it to do the "auto ZModem" thing when
downloading. I have it configured to do that, but when the ZModem string comes
from the host system, I am forced to initiate the transfer myself from the
drop-downs. It _usually_ works then.

The suggestion has to do with the transfer window. I don't know if it's the
layout or what, but I have trouble telling how far along (percentage wise) the
transfer is. I like to have as much information on the transfers as I can.
Maybe it's just me though. :)

 - Mick

P.S. I _really_ like the terminal font in Storm. Looks great in mono, haven't
tried it yet in color though.

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 167       Sat Nov 13, 1993
E.SAKARA1                    at 16:26 EST

Definitely something going on with the PARITY option.

Trying to access GENIE (a loval phone number):
  parity=none - works fine
        = even- dials two digits and then stops
        =odd  - won't dial

Another local board:
   none - works
   even - dials a long string (more than 7) of numbers
   odd  - won't dial

Crazy thing is, I need ODD parity to contact the office mainframe and this
works just fine.  How does STORM know what the other system needs even before
it has dialed the number? <grin>

the above toest were done on a 2meg 520stfm with tos1.04 and NEODESK. AND in
each case I exited STORM and reran it to make sure all memory was
reinitilaized with nothing left from the previous run.

eric sakara
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 168       Sat Nov 13, 1993
E.SAKARA1                    at 16:33 EST

Further to the above - I just realized why the PARITY options didn't work for
most numbers but did for my office mainframe. PARITY only works for less than
8 bit characters.  If you have 8 bits then you can't have PARITY. (i.e. parity
= none).
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 169       Sat Nov 13, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 17:03 EST

I have been able to upload and download using The Storm.  It was
 necessary to set the timeout to the long setting in order to get the
 upload to start.  The Storm needs to do recognize the Zmodem upload
 prompt string and display the item selector.  I experienced the 2
 read errors on starting the download, but it proceeded ok after that.
  1040ST 4 meg/AdSpeed and TOS 1.4.


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 170       Sat Nov 13, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 20:39 EST

Xmodem now works fine, and Ymodem does, too, as far as I can tell. But Zmodem
is still messed up; I even find Storm switching into Zm receive mode when an
upload from Storm in Zm fails.

Looking better and better...

Al

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 171       Sat Nov 13, 1993
K.ESTES [Kenne@SFRT]         at 20:44 EST

I wrote my first script today. Not bad. It was something to do the  account
password stuff on a local BBS. Six lines total, with one command per line.
Very cool!

My one wish is a way to lose the type-ahead so I can see more lines per
screen.

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 172       Sun Nov 14, 1993
CBARRON                      at 01:21 EST

 great, what sets all these bits????
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 173       Sun Nov 14, 1993
W.HALLMAN [Bill]             at 11:06 EST

 R.HOEKSTRA1>

        I, also, have a Mega 4 with TOS 1.4. I am running serial fix 2.0,
Teradesk, and TurboST mono. I have the File Transfer set up for CRC 32, Long
Timeouts, Force Binary, and Autostart Transfers. I have my terminal set for 8
bits, no pairity. I have not messed with the fastload bits.
    I have used Zmodem, on at least 5 different BBSes, and 2 mainframes,
without any problems. I have used it for downloads(auto worked fine) and
uploads. I know there are many people having problems with Zmodem, so it has
to be something in the setup they are running, that makes the difference.
There is something, that for some reason, STORM, or the Zmodem implementation,
doesn't get along with. Alan has acknowledged that there are some problems in
the Zmodem module, my setup seems to work fine, in spite of them.

                                       Bill


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 174       Sun Nov 14, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 13:55 EST

Carl,

NeoDesk sets the bits in the Show Information dialog. MaxiFile sets the fast-
load bit (and the TT-specific bits), but not the MTOS bits.

I checked the four PD utils I have for bit-setting, and none of them handled
the MTOS bits.

I have used NeoDesk for so long that I had forgotten that some users don't
have that ability. Maybe someone here knows of a free utility that can set all
the bits (fast-load, the two TT RAM bits and the four MTOS bits).

Bill,

Thanks for the report on Zmodem. Without making any change in the setup that I
employ for Zmodem transfers here using STalker, Flash II and XYZ.TTP, Storm's
Zmodem does not work. No, it's not my setup. It can't be. The others do Zmodem
without a problem.

Al

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 175       Sun Nov 14, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 15:05 EST

 >>Storm's Zmodem does not work. No, it's not my setup. It can't be.  <<
  >>The others  do Zmodem without a problem.                           <<

 Al,
   That doesn't follow.  Zmodem is working here, not perfectly, but it
 DOES work, so what ELSE but environment can you suggest???

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 176       Sun Nov 14, 1993
S.LYSTER [Stu Lyster]        at 15:36 EST

Harvey Wolfe - is there not a 'sorting' program for the dialing directory in
the Basic programs?


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 177       Sun Nov 14, 1993
W.HALLMAN [Bill]             at 17:25 EST

 A.FASOLDT>
        I didn't mean to imply there was anything wrong with your, or
anyone's, setup. What I meant was there is something in those setups that
STORM's Zmodem doesn't coexist with. I am sure the problem is in STORM's
Zmodem module. I was just pointing out the fact that it does work with a Mega
4 with TOS 1.4, with my setup.

                                     Bill


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 178       Sun Nov 14, 1993
K.ESTES [Kenne@SFRT]         at 19:06 EST

How do I clear the Terminal window?
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 179       Sun Nov 14, 1993
W.HALLMAN [Bill]             at 19:49 EST

 EXPLORER.1>
        Alan shows 2 examples of HANGUP commands, for keyboard macros, in the
STORM.DOC file. There are, also, several examples in earlier messages in this
topic.


K.ESTES>
        The command to clear the terminal screen, while in VT-100 mode, is:
ESC[2J The ESC can be entered into a function key setup by holding down the
Control key and pressing the semicolon (;) key.

                                         Bill




 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 180       Sun Nov 14, 1993
R.WATSON15 [Wayne Watson]    at 22:59 EST

 Try Control-J to clear the window.

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 181       Mon Nov 15, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 01:51 EST

  I have a Zmodem that (hopefully) may work a bit better. I will either post
the module or a patch in the next day or so. Interested parties should
download it and try it out.
  The way "hangup" will work in the next version is that there will be a
"Hangup" option on the Dial menu. In the modem settings dialog box there is a
text entry field for "Hangup Command:". By default, it will contain DTR
OFF:PAUSE 1:DTR ON:END. Novices need alter nothing. Experts can change this to
whatever they want, or program a function key to either call that menu item,
or do a different hangup, or whatever.
  Eventually, most of the menu items may be associated with Basic commands,
allowing a greater degree of customization. e.g. custom exit procedures. The
overhead in memory and speed for this would be negligible.
   - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 182       Mon Nov 15, 1993
S.RAMIREZ                    at 04:46 EST

Alan (and others), thanks for the tip on using SERFX20.PRG. Things now work
fine.

Sam Ramirez /s
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 183       Mon Nov 15, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 05:55 EST

Alan,
    That should cover the 'hangup' hangup.  Grin.
    Any chance of getting a dropdown menu that would allow
 user-specified basic programs to run, like the list of BackTalk
 scripts in STalker?  I really like that feature.

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 184       Mon Nov 15, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 08:29 EST

Ron,

What else could be the problem? How about a conflict that only shows up with
certain hard-disk drivers? How about a CPU-specific conflict?

I realize that when software works for you, the last thing you want to believe
is that it may not work for someone else. I get this eveery now and then at
the office (and it's spreading to the regional offices that my software is
going out to, also) - "Why doesn't this work??"

And of course my first reaction is always, "It DOES work!" My second reaction
is to see what else is running ont he system in question. My third reaction is
go go back to the code itself. Just because something tests fine on nine
machines does not mean it will run OK on the tenth.

And, by the way, it's not just that Zmodem isn't working properly. It isn't
working, period. And locks up the machine. Come now, no other telecomm
application does that to my TT. (And the same thing happens on the ST here.)

Al


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 185       Mon Nov 15, 1993
K.ESTES [Kenne@SFRT]         at 13:42 EST

Are all the paths set to valid sources and destinations?

Do you have Stalker active (in a closed window)?

Is it set to the correct port?

Just out of curiousity, how many people are having these problems with a MSTE.
I thought I saw somewhere that the MSTE is the system Alan has.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 186       Mon Nov 15, 1993
P.MORALES1 [Pat]             at 21:11 EST

Al,

It's not "free" but I seem to recall a recent conversation emphasizing that
free is not always the best choice, so...

The best program flag setter/resetter that I have seen is in Chet Walter's
Mother Hubbard's Cupboard utilities package. Actually, for the what he was
charging for the package (about $20) it was almost free.

Pat

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 187       Mon Nov 15, 1993
GRMEYER [Gordon/Sysop]       at 21:53 EST

Can someone provide a code sample showing how to use the basic ALERT command?
I've tried various things with no success.  I have a nice little "quoter"
script that will quote and re-send messages that you clip from, but it needs
an alert. If someone can help me out with the syntax, I'll post it here when
finished.  It's all of about 8 lines long.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 188       Mon Nov 15, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 22:29 EST

Kenne,

All paths are set properly. STalker was not loaded during the Storm session.
Storm was set to the correct port.

Al

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 189       Mon Nov 15, 1993
MIKE-ALLEN [NM~SysOp]        at 23:30 EST

Kenne

Works fine on my MSTe.  <g>

        Mike Allen
        ST HelpDesk~Sysop

        Written: 12:56 PM Mountain Time
                 Monday, November 15, 1993

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 190       Mon Nov 15, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 23:52 EST

 >>  What else could be the problem? How about a conflict that only   <<
  >>shows up  with certain hard-disk drivers? How about a CPU-specific <<
  >>conflict?                                                          <<

 Actually, I have had exactly that problem, with an early version of
 HotWire.  It just WOULDN'T work with one of the AHDI versions.
 Strange, and we (CodeHeads and I) sweated blood over it.  They were
 beginning to think I was nuts, and I wasn't sure I wasn't...

  >>  And, by the way, it's not just that Zmodem isn't working         <<
  >>properly. It isn't  working, period. And locks up the machine.     <<
  >>Come now, no other telecomm  application does that to my TT. (And  <<
  >>the same thing happens on the ST here.)                            <<

    Well, it DOES work, at least for some of  us, so if we can
 determine WHY it works for some of us, and not for others, then it
 might be easier for Alan to get it working for everyone.


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 191       Tue Nov 16, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 01:47 EST

  I have uploaded a patch for the Storm ZMODEM.TRF. Please download it (when
available) and try it out. These things are hard to figure out, but I found a
section of code that runs in the vertical blank that was allocating stack
space for some arrays. It was only about 80 bytes, but perhaps that was enough
to blow away the supervisor stack, especially if the interrupt happened when
the machine was already in supervisor mode running code that also used a lot
of supervisor stack.
  I have changed the arrays to static. Also, the zmodem no longer gives me the
'read errors' it used to. However, sometimes it will not terminate a Zmodem
upload properly and you have to abort it. I am still trying to work that one
out.
  Re: people changing the program flags. If you do so, please restore them
before running a patch on the program. If you are running under MultiTOS with
memory protection, you MUST leave the SUPER flag set, or else the dialer and
the file transfer are guaranteed to cause memory protection errors!
  I will be looking at the dialer for the same problem in the next few days.
  - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 192       Tue Nov 16, 1993
G.ROUSH [Gary Roush]         at 01:51 EST

Alan,

Something wrong is going on.  The program is 2-bombing on me when I do
something like this.  Everytime I select the "open new" on the file menu, it
bombs and sends me back to gem, and I have to reset the computer after that.
It happens everytime I click on that new file selection.  This appears to be
consistent on my mega 2 machine with TOS 1.4 and using version 1.1.  Has
anyone else experienced this? This appears to be a major bug to me. Everything
else runs fine as long as I don't touch that new file drop menu selection.
Also when I am dialing a number using the Dial menu, I choose the line and
dial. After I do this, I can hear the clicking of the keys as if someone were
holding the keys down. I touch the space bar or any key and it stops the
clicking sound. If I remember correctly, I think I did not experience problems
like this on version 1.0.

Gary


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 193       Tue Nov 16, 1993
AEO.MAG [*] FSU #2 [*]       at 02:37 EST

Gordon,

It depends on what you want the alert to do, but here's a yes/no/cancel
alert:

var=ALERT(1,"[2][ Re-send the quote | you clipped? ][ Yes | No | Cancel ]")

 1. var is any numeric variable. After processing the alert, it will
  contain 1 for the first button, 2 for the second, 3 for the third.
 2. The "1" will make the first button RETURN selectable. ("0" will
  force the use of the mouse.
 3. The "[2]" calls the Question Mark Alert. ("[1]" for Exclaimation
  Point, "[3]" for Stop Sign, and "[0]" for no icon.)
 4. In the message segment, the "|" is the line delimiter.
 5. In the button segment, the "|" delimits the buttons (You can have a
  max of three buttons.)

Hope this helps.

--Travis
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 194       Tue Nov 16, 1993
CBARRON                      at 03:17 EST

Gordon First Alert is a function not a command.
   x = alert(number,alertstring$) is the syntax
   number is the number of the button left to right that will be the return
value if the return key is pressed. Alertstring$ is a string of a special
format  the icon # in square brackets,the lines [except the last terminated
with |. enclosed in a second pair of square brackets, followed by the buttons
separated by |'s if there is more than one and enclosed in a third set of
square brackets.
   A$="[3][You blew it!!!|Try Again][Ok|Quit]"
   x = alert(1,a$)
   REM if x = 1 then user said 'ok' if x=2 user said 'quit'.
   REM  this should have two lines  'You blew it!!!' and 'Try Again' as well
as a stop icon and the two buttons 'Ok' and 'Quit'
   icon #0 is no icon, 1,2 I forget but a simple basic program will show them
      for i=0 to 3
        a$="["+str$(i)+"][This is a test][ ok ]"
        x = alert 1,a$
      next should show all 4 possibilities with this simple alert box.

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 195       Tue Nov 16, 1993
M.POCHE [Mick]               at 03:26 EST

Gary -

Never experienced any of the problems you mentioned.

When reoprting bugs, you really need to give more information about your
system and its setup.

First tip, as always, is to try Storm on a 'stripped' system with no programs
running from your AUTO folder and no ACCessories loaded.

If that solves the problem, try adding back the programs and ACC's one at a
time until you find the conflicting program(s).

Of course, you may know this routine already, but I see it so many times
around here that it can never be reiterated too many times. :)

Good luck getting it worked out. With a little more work, Alan should have
Storm up to the "term program of choice" for many of us!

- Mick

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 196       Tue Nov 16, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 08:28 EST

Pat,

Thanks for the info on Mother Hubbard's Cupboard. I've never seen it in
action, although Chet (or someone else) was demoing it at a show I was at, and
I never got back to that part of the action.

Alan,

Thanks for the ZM patch. Will try it out tonight.

Al

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 197       Tue Nov 16, 1993
ELROD                        at 19:10 EST

Alan,

   First off, Great Job... US Money Orders ok? :)

  I haven't had the time to really sit down and play with Storm  like I would
like, but looks great so far. One thing that I would like to see that Flash
1.6 had, is Command History in in the Type Ahead. I still use 1.6 to play a
game on GEnie because of that feature. :)

                               Rick

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 198       Tue Nov 16, 1993
S.GARRIGUS [Scott]           at 19:13 EST

Gary,

Load the STORM.INI file into a text editor and look for the line that says
Blink=0.  Change the 0 to a 1 and that should solve the problem.

 Scott
 SRG Music & Software

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 199       Tue Nov 16, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 19:13 EST

 >>  First tip, as always, is to try Storm on a 'stripped' system     <<
  >>with no  programs running from your AUTO folder and no ACCessories <<
  >>loaded. If that solves the problem, try adding back the programs   <<
  >>and ACC's one at a  time until you find the conflicting            <<
  >>program(s).                                                        <<

 If you have as many .ACC and AUTO programs as I do, you might want to
 do a 'binary search' on them by disabling them 1/2 at a time.  Speeds
 up the process greatly.


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 200       Tue Nov 16, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 20:20 EST

 Gary,
  If you set 'blink' to off, there was unfortunately a bug in that addition.
As mentioned above, either change Blink=0 to Blink=1 anywhere you find it in
STORM.INI, or delete any lines with Blink=0 (has the same effect since blink
defaults to ON).
  U.S. checks or postal money orders are okay. My bank puts a hold on U.S.
checks for four weeks, but that seems only fair since I won't be shipping the
shareware version until next January.
  So far I am very pleased with the shareware response. I have received an
encouraging number of registrations.
  - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 201       Tue Nov 16, 1993
G.ROUSH [Gary Roush]         at 21:55 EST

Alan,

Blink=1 is what I have.  I am able to get in the program and do everything in
the program as I need to.  When I click on the Open file and Open new file at
any time, it gives me two bombs and I have to reset the machine. I have 6
accessories named, ButtonFixer, Popit, Maxifile, Printer Initilization,
Control Panel, and Warp 9.

I am going to try running 1.0 and see if it happens to me or not. If so, I
will run on a bare systems mode and see what happens and go from there.  None
of the other programs I have have a problem, so it will be interesting to see
what happens.  Be back later...

Gary

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 202       Tue Nov 16, 1993
G.ROUSH [Gary Roush]         at 22:21 EST

Alan,

I took out all the auto programs and all the ACC's and still had the same
problem.  When I click on the Open File or Open New File in the File Menu,
bombs instantly to GEM. I ran the 1.00 version and no problem at all even with
all my accessories and auto programs. So, there is something happening.  I
don't know what else to tell ya, except apparently, something changed in the
new 1.1 version to cause this. My machine is the Mega 2. What I will do is
avoid selecting those and perhaps test them again in the future with version
1.3.

Doing the patch showed a successful patch, etc. Another irony is that when
dialing, it sometimes starks making a clicking sound at a fast rate as if
someone were holding down the keyboard keys. If that happens, I hit the space
bar or any key and it stops. That's just when dialing. Everything else seems
to work fine, including the downloads. So...what else do you want me to try? I
don't know what else to try since I tried with the barebones system.

I'm not upset, but pointing this out so you know about it. I do wonder though
if I am the only one experiencing this or not? Is anyone using version 1.1 and
trying that Open file and Open New file selection on version 1.1?  If not,
could those of you give it a try if you haven't already done so.  Version 1.0
worked fine opening both of those selections. Hear from any of you later.

Gary

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 203       Tue Nov 16, 1993
FAIRWEATHER [David]          at 23:18 EST

 Sorry to say that Zmodem 1.01 and XYModem 1.01 still
 don't work on my Falcon with TOS 4.04 and a completely bare system.
 (With or without FPATCH2.PRG in the Auto folder).

 Running from within Storm 1.01,the 2 read errors are gone in Zmodem 1.01.
 But after 3 elapsed seconds the system still locks up and only a reboot
 will free it (just like in Zmodem 1.00.)

 XYModem 1.01, like its predecessor, does absolutely nothing at all.
 It never kicks in.

 HAS ANYONE GOTTEN STORM FILE TRANSFERS TO WORK ON A FALCON?
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 204       Tue Nov 16, 1993
P.PAULSON1 [Paul]            at 23:43 EST

I had the same problem with the capture. I got bombs when I tried to load.  I
have a STE with TOS 1.62. I finally got it to work by dumping the whole
STORM.PRG and R file and  unzipped an   nother copy of both and patched both
again . In other words, I started ober   ver with a fresh program. It worked.
Don't ask why, I haven't the slightest idea. Ob  Lobotomy? Hope this is of
some use Gary.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 205       Tue Nov 16, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 23:51 EST

  Gary,
  I am fairly sure that what's wrong is you forgot to patch the STORM.RSC
file. I tried Storm 1.01 with the old STORM.RSC file and got exactly the
problem you described. There was a STORMRSC.ZZP in the patch kit which you
need to use to patch the resource file.
  David,
  Assuming Nathan hasn't loaned it out, I should be able to get another look
at his Falcon next week and report back to you. One more thing to try on the
serial configuration is to place the following line in the [Serial Ports]
section:
  UseBconmap=0
  Let me know if that helps. If not, then I will get back to you when I get
access to a Falcon again. I did borrow it for a week and it seemed to be
working fine, but it may have a different ROM version. In fact, I believe it
is an early model (has a German keyboard).
  I have a program that reports info on the serial port vectors and such. When
I have a chance to clean it up a bit I will upload it. That may help obtain
more information.
 Until then, there's not much more I can do but offer my apologies that the
program has failed to work on your system.
  - Alan
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 206       Tue Nov 16, 1993
FAIRWEATHER [David]          at 23:53 EST

Gary, open file and open new work fine on my Falcon with Storm 1.01. It's
those dang file transfers that are giving me conniptions.
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 207       Wed Nov 17, 1993
J.WISNIEWSK2 [Jeff - ST'er]  at 00:13 EST

  One thing I would like to see is a feature that Flash II has, in the dial
directory a history of files uploaded/downloaded, # of calls, length of calls,
and when the last call was.

I know that this might be in the grounds of copyrights and such, but this is
something that I have wanted in a terminal program for years.

                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                ^^^^    JSW    ^^^^
                ^^^^   ST'er   ^^^^
                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Wednesday, November 17, 1993 - 12:04:56 am
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 208       Wed Nov 17, 1993
M.POCHE [Mick]               at 02:30 EST

Well, I just got the same problem Gary mentioned about getting bombs when
selecting "Open New" from the dropdowns.

The reason it had never surfaced for me before was that it doesn't seem to do
this if I'm not online. I was just on a local BBS, and when I tried it, bomb
city (2 of 'em). I got a "Unable to open a window" dialog.

Time to take my own advice and strip the system and try it again. Will report
back later...


LATER:

Ok... just did some checking with a stripped system and got the same problem.
It happens when selecting either "Open" or "Open New".

I now believe it has something to do with the patch to ver. 1.01, as I don't
recall this ever happening before I ran the patch on it. The only thing
running on my system (MSTE/4) at the time was ICD's boot software, version
5.3.0 I believe. Running in high-res BTW.

I have to agree that this could be considered a major bug, and I hope that
Alan can look into getting it taken care of soon!

As it stands now, I can't see myself paying the Shareware fee until some of
these bugs are squashed. Once they are though, I'll happily pay up!! It has
the potential to be my term program of choice once it's running smoothly.

Don't get me wrong folks, I do appreciate Alan making this program available
as Shareware and all of the support he is giving it in the little free time he
has. Thanks Alan!

- Mick

 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 209       Wed Nov 17, 1993
A.PAGE3                      at 06:40 EST

  PLEASE READ THIS!
  If you get bombs with File Open or File New, then you probably forgot to
patch STORM.RSC with the STORMRSC.ZZP patch file. If I use the old STORM.RSC
with Storm 1.01 I get exactly the same problem.
  Don't get fooled by the "About" dialog. The version number for that is in
the program, not the resource!
  - Alan Page
 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 210       Wed Nov 17, 1993
NTACTONE [Ron Hunter]        at 06:47 EST

 >>  U.S. checks or postal money orders are okay. My bank puts a hold <<
  >>on U.S.  checks for four weeks, but that seems only fair since I   <<
  >>won't be shipping the  shareware version until next January.       <<
 Alan,
   Perhaps if NAFTA is approved, this long delay will be eliminated,
 or at least shortened....  Looks like it is gonna pass here.


 ------------
Category 8,  Topic 2
Message 211       Wed Nov 17, 1993
A.FASOLDT [Al Fasoldt]       at 08:44 EST

Alan,

The Zm patch shows promise. On my TT, Zmodem uploads take 30 or more seconds
to begin, show the file progress in only 16K increments, and then bomb the
computer (lock it up) the next time and upload is selected. Zm downloads lock
up the system entirely, the same as before.

Al

 ------------

