OTC DATA ACCESS UPDATE ON THE MIDAS FILES 1/2 ORIGINALLY UPLOADED BY THE BUZZARD UPDATE TYPED IN BY THE BUZZARD 16TH MARCH, 1989 This is an update on the Midas files uploaded to various BBS' in the Melbourne district some time ago. It has come about by the introduction of the OTC Data Access system which in part replaces the Midas System. This file is an update only, so if you haven't got the midas files 1 and 2 then it might be an idea to get these files as well. The Buzzard 1. New User Friendly OTC Data Access Easier Access : (02)20991 if your application is general interactive database access. (02)20992 if you will be using special file transfer protocols, or other protocols, which require PAD transparency. Baud Rates : 300, 1200/75, 1200/1200, 2400 baud 7 bits, 1 stop, EVEN parity FULL duplex, XON/XOFF control flow Upon dial up connection OTC Data Access will generate a welcome banner,followed by the '*' (asterisk) prompt. The '*' means that the PAD is waiting for your command. Commands -------- The Commands are much the same as described in the Midas Files.. At the prompt '*', and in a single line without spaces, type in upper or lower case a.the character 'N' b.your NUI (password) this wont be echoed to the screen c.the hyphen character '-' d.A zero '0' (only for international calls with full address) e.the full address to be called, or the abbreviated address f. a carriage return Successful Calls ---------------- Successful connection of your call will be confirmedby the following message from the OTC Data Access PAD:- date and time - 24 hour format Sydney Time CID XXXX - Call Identification number Host Address - confirmation of the called address 'COM' - Indicates that you may now communicate with the called host. Unsuccessful Calls ------------------ If your call was not successful, you will recieve a 'clearing indication' from the OTC Data Access PAD of the form: CLR nnn The code will indicate why the call failed. Special Protocols ----------------- If your going to use a spacial file transfer protocol i.e. X-MODEM, or other block mode protocols, then you will have to set the Data Access PAD to be totally transparent. Transparency can only be achieved thru the (02)20992 number. a. dial (02)20992 b. call your host computer c. some hosts can set the PAD to transparency, automatically. If your host can't do that, or your not sure, the you shouls set the PAD manually as follows : d. BEFORE commencing your file transfer or BEFORE entering block mode, type P to swap the PAD from data mode to cammand mode. e. at the '*' prompt type the command PROF1 to select the transparent PAD Profile, profile 1. f. the PAD is now completely transparent to your data. It is also completely silent and cannot be recalled for you to issue further PAD commands. You may now proceed with your data transfers. g. When you logoff from your host and the call is cleared, the PAD will return to its default profile, profile 4. Commands -------- General PAD Commands which can be issued at the '*' (asterisk) prompt : PAD COMMAND FUNCTION INDICATORS --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLR to break the existing connection CLR CONF RESET to reset the logical connection none from Data and dump all packets in transit Access. Your host may send a reset indicator. INT to interrupt the host. An usually none. alternate to the BREAK key. STAT used to check if logical FREE or ENGAGED connection active. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Profile change command (at the '*' prompt) PAD COMMAND FUNCTION INDICATORS -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- PROFn set all parameters to values (nil) specified in Profile n. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Parameter change Commands (at the '*' prompt) PAD COMMAND FUNCTION INDICATORS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAR?n to see the values of specified PARn:v PAR?n.m parameters. PARn:v,m:w PAR? (lists all) SET?n:v to change the values of PARn:v SET?n:v,m:w various parameters (n & m) to PARn:v,m:w new values (v & w) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAD PARAMETERS -------------- The PAD acts as a translator of data standards between your terminal and the packet-switching network. There are 18 parameters in the OTC Data Access PAD and each can be set to various values. Parameters are referenced by number, and each parameter can hold a value between 0 and 255, although in most, the choice is more restricted. NO. PARAMETER FUNCTION ---+------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 PAD recall control - determines wether the user can switch to the command mode from the data mode. 2 ECHO - switches ON or OFF the echo function. 3 Data Trigger - defines what sends the packet on its way. 4 Automatic Trigger Timer - controls the delay before a packet is auto- matically dispatched. 5 Allows the PAD to flow-control data from the users terminal by using XON/ XOFF. 6 Service Signals - sets operation of signals from the PAD to your terminal. 7 Break Procedure - determines what happens if you hit the break key. 8 Buffer flushing - discards data in the PAD buffer. 9 Carriage return padding - sets the delay needed by printers to allow time for print head repositioning. 10 Line Folding - sets number of characters in a line before a line-feed occurs. 11 Access line speed - indicates speed of internal link between PAD and OTC's modem. 12 Determines wether or not the PAD can be flow-controlled by the user via XON/XOFF. 13 Line-feed/Carriage-return - sets wether the system supplies a line-feed after a carriage-return. 14 Line-feed padding - sets a delay needed by some systems after a line-feed. 15 Edit Control - allows editing of current line before packet is dispatched. 16 Delete Key - sets key used to delete a single character. 17 Line-Delete Key - sets key used to delete a line. 18 Line Display Key - sets key used to display the current line for editing. Note: see advanced users manual for details of selectable values for these parameters. There are currently 8 profiles available to you. The list and chart below give the most common usage of the various profiles and the parameter default values set for each. PROFILE DESCRIPTION --------+--------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 sets the PAD for transparency on (02)20992 2 a CCITT standard 3 (reserved) 4 standard default profile used on both dial-up numbers. 5 (reserved) 6 same as 4 except it has no echo; suitable for half duplex 7 for older style printer terminals, with a limited alility to buffer. 8 (reserved) 9 videotext applications 10 (reserved) 11 alternate to profile 4; without automatic line feed insertion. 12 same as 4, except PAD echo control cannot be turned off by the host. --------+--------------------------------------------------------------------- STANDARD DEFAULT PROFILE ------------------------ The default profile for both phone numbers is profile 4. Allprofiles have 18 parameters - each of which is set to a value which controls a PAD function. PROFILE 4 1 = 1 sets P to swpa from data to command mode. 2 = 1 keyed characters will be echoed back to user and appear on the screen (full duplex) 3 = 2 After every 128 characters or a carriage return, data is transmitted as a packet. 4 = 0 There is no automatic transmission of data after a certain time period. 5 = 2 Sets flow-control of data from terminal. Without this, data could be lost. 6 = 13 Enables the display of the '*' prompt, date/time, and call stats. 7 = 21 Sets the operation of the BREAK key to interrupt the host and to discard any data currently in transit from the host. 8 = 0 Sets the normal flow of data from the host to the users terminal. 9 = 0 No delay is inserted after a carriage return. Printer terminal users see profile 7. 10 = 0 No carriage-return or line-feed characters are added by the local PAD 11 = 12 Not accessable to the user. 12 = 1 The value defines the flow-control between the PAD and Data Access' own internal modem. 13 = 4 Adds a line feed after each carriage-return on echoed data only to provide 'normal' line scrolling. 14 = 0 No delay after a line-feed character in data from the host, or echoed back from the PAD 15 = 0 The current line of text in the buffer (i.e the part-packet waiting to be sent) cannot be edited. 16 = 127) 17 = 24 ) These three edit control parameters are not applicable when param 15 18 = 18 ) is set to zero. STANDARD PAD PROFILES --------------------- par PROFILE NUMBER num 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 ---+-------------------------------------------------- 01 00 01 -- 01 -- 01 01 -- 01 -- 01 01 02 00 01 -- 01 -- 00 00 -- 01 -- 01 01 03 00 126 -- 02 -- 02 02 -- 126 -- 02 02 04 04 00 -- 00 -- 00 00 -- 10 -- 00 00 05 00 01 -- 02 -- 02 02 -- 00 -- 02 02 06 00 01 -- 13 -- 13 13 -- 01 -- 13 13 07 02 02 -- 21 -- 21 21 -- 21 -- 21 21 08 00 00 -- 00 -- 00 00 -- 00 -- 00 00 09 00 00 -- 00 -- 00 07 -- 00 -- 00 00 10 00 00 -- 00 -- 00 00 -- 00 -- 00 00 11 12 12 -- 12 -- 12 12 -- 12 -- 12 12 12 00 01 -- 01 -- 01 01 -- 01 -- 01 01 13 00 00 -- 04 -- 00 00 -- 00 -- 00 04 14 00 00 -- 00 -- 00 00 -- 00 -- 00 00 15 00 00 -- 00 -- 00 00 -- 00 -- 00 00 16 127 127 -- 127 -- 127 127 -- 127 -- 127 127 17 24 24 -- 24 -- 24 24 -- 24 -- 24 24 18 18 18 -- 18 -- 18 18 -- 18 -- 18 18 ------------------------------------------------------ GENERAL SERVICE SIGNALS ----------------------- The OTC Data Access Service provides important information to the user - esp. in the event of problems occuring within the packet-switching network. * (asteisk) the asterisk prompt indicates that the PAD is in the command mode, ie: commands may be issued, parameters and profiles changed, or a call may be placed. COM Call has been connected. ERR An error has been made in a PAD command. ENGAGED In response to STAT command, it advises that you are (logically) connected to a host. FREE In response to STAT command, it advises that terminal is free to make a new call. PAR In response to PAR? or SET? it gives the parameter number/s and present value/s. Call Statistics =============== CID: The call Identification number. DUR: The duration of the call. SEGS RX: The number of segments recieved. SEGS TX: The number of segments transmitted. RESET SIGNALS ============= A reset indicator shows that the logical connection between you and the host has been interrupted and restored - but there might have been a loss of data. RESET DER Network error problem. RESET DTE Problem with the remote host. RESET ERR Local procedure error. RESET NC Network congestion problem. RESET PAR Reset initiated by PAD parameter. RESET RDO Error in remote host operations. RESET RPE Procedural error by remote host. CLEAR SIGNALS ============= If you wish to re-establish your link after a clear indicator, you will need to call again. CLR CONF PAD acknowledgement to your clear command. CLR DER The number you called is out of order. CLR DTE The remote host has cleared the call. CLR ERR Procedural error caused by your terminal. CLR INV Invalid request - facility not available. CLR NA The number called is not available to you. CLR NC Network congestion or temporary fault. CLR NP Called number not valid - Check number. CLR OCC Number id busy - Try again later. CLR PAD The remote host has commanded OTC Data Access PAD to clear the call. CLR RPE Remote procedure error probably by the host. Note: If problems persist, take note of any diagnostic codes and pass them onto the Fault Reporting Centre (02) 218 4825 or (02) 218 4826 Telex AA01051 Account representatives: Toll-Free (008) 25 1139 or Sydney (02) 287 3000 OTC Data Access Simulator: (02) 211 2850 give it a try to see how it all works!! [Ed: I hope this sorts out any problems anyone might be having/or have had with the new OTC Data Access system. I'll be getting the Advanced Users Manual soon, so I'll type it up and put it up. Errors and Omisions Accepted. The Buzzard]