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13. PC-PLOT-IV Script Language

13.0_Overview

This version of PC-PLOT-IV contains a simple programming language which allows the user to write a 'script' to tell PC-PLOT-IV what actions to take. The desired actions can be select terminal number, dial number, wait for string and others. Using the script mechanism, PC-PLOT-IV can be programmed to automatically log onto a dial-up service, execute several commands, save the output in a file, and log off.

A script is actuated in one of two ways. To run PC-PLOT-IV and run a script first, enter the following command when running PC-PLOT-IV:

PCPLOT <scriptname>

PC-PLOT-IV will start up, initialize, and the script named <scriptname> will be executed.

If you are already running PC-PLOT-IV, you can run a script by entering an ALT-G command. The prompt for the script name will appear on the bottom line of the screen.

If you have used the SET PCPLOT= declaration in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file as described in section 1.12, you can have all of your scripts located in the same subdirectory as PC-PLOT-IV but run PC-PLOT-IV and your scripts from any subdirectory you happen to be in.

13.1 Script Language

The PC-PLOT-IV script language consists of the following commands:

BREK     Send break
DELA     Delay
DIAL      Dial
ECON    Echo received characters

ECOF Do not echo received characters

EXIT Exit from PC-PLOT program

PASS Send password

PRNT Do a printscreen

QUIT Hang up phone

SAVE Save data in file

SEND Send string

STOP End of script

TERM Terminal number

TILL Save until

WAIT Wait for string

While WAIT ing for a string from the host, you can break out of the script by depressing an ALT-B.

13.101 Send break-BREK

The BREK command sends a BREAK signal to the host. A break is not a character but a signalling method used to alert the host. A BREAK consists of holding the serial data line TRUE for approximately 1/2 second.

13.102 Time delay-DELA n

The DELA n command causes the script to wait n seconds before continuing. It is usually a good idea to put a 2 second delay after your modem sends the CONNECT message before sending any commands. The delay parameter can be from I to 99 seconds.

13.103 Dial number-DIAL <number>

The DIAL command sends the telephone number and any command string to your modem. If you need to dial 9 for an outside line, wait 2 seconds, and then dial a long distance number, your DIAL command might look like:

DIAL ATDT9„16142811111~

The ATDT is a Hayes-compatible dialing string for tone dialing,
the ,, selects a 2 second delay in the modem, and

the ~ is required at the end of the number so that the modem will pick up the line and dial.

13.104 Send password-PASS <string>

The PASS command sends the character string to the host and bypasses any local echo mode that might be set so that the password will not appear on the screen.

PASS 327$V8$4BBL$CARB~

Note: most commands to a remote host require a <cr> to be processed. The ~ character is used to represent the <cr> character in the string.

13.105 Hang up phone line-QUIT

The QUIT command causes the modem to hang up the phone line by dropping the DTR line to FALSE for 1/2 second. Your modem will have to be set up to hang up when DTR goes false. Usually, there is a DTR mode switch on smart modems which should be set ON.

13.106 Save data in file-SAVE <string>

The SAVE and TILL commands work together. The SAVE command opens a file with the name <string> and saves all data from the host in it. The SAVE remains active until the TILL string is satisfied.

SAVE chem0322

would open a file called chem0322 for data from the host.

13.107 Send string-SEND <string>

The SEND command sends the string to the remote host and echoes the string to the screen.

SEND MOVE 201;1~

tells GENIE online service to go to page 201 and execute subfunction 1.
Note the ~ character for a <cr>.

13.108 End of script-STOP

The STOP command terminates a script and exits back to normal PC-PLOT-IV communications mode.

13.109 Select terminal number-TERM n

The TERM n command selects terminal setup n where n is a number from 1 to 8. The terminal setups are pre-programmed using the ALT-S setup menu. The terminal number is the first item in the menu.

13.110 Save until-TILL

If the system you were logged on to used the command LOG Y log off the system, you could use the following commands to save a session until the user types the LOG Y command from the keyboard.

	SAVE chem03O2 (save session in file chem03O2)
	TILL LOG Y (close file when logout found)

13.111 Wait for string-WAIT <string>

The WAIT command causes the script processor to search for the <string>. To wait for the initial screen in GENIE and send a MOVE command, use the following script:

	WAIT <H>elp? SEND MOVE 201;1~

The <H>elp? is the key word which is sent just before you can enter the move command.

If your host does not respond by sending the string that PC-PLOT-IV is waiting for, depress ALT-B to break out of the script.

13.112 Echo chars ON- ECON

When using the WAIT <string> command, the characters received from the host are not normally echoed to the screen. By using the ECON command, the characters will be echoed to the screen until an ECOF (echo off) command is executed.

13.113 Echo chars OFF- ECOF

When using the WAIT <string> command, the characters received from the host are not normally echoed to the screen. If you have used the ECON command to turn on the echo of host characters during a WAIT, ECOF can be used to turn off the echo again. The echo flag is set to off at the beginning of each script. `

13.114 EXIT' PC-PLOT-IV

The normal method of exiting PC-PLOT-IV is to depress the ALT-X key which sets a program flag called altx flag. As soon as the multi-task loop in PC-PLOT-IV senses that the ALT-X flag is set, cleanup chores such as resetting interrupt vectors, closing open files, and resetting hardware are performed before exiting to PC-DOS. The EXIT script command sets the ALT-X flag which causes PC-PLOT-IV to exit to PC-DOS as soon as the script file is complete.

13.115 Do screenprint- PRNT

This command in a script will cause a graphics or alpha screenprint to be sent to LPT1:

13.2 Preparing scripts

A script is a file of commands with the file type PCS. You might name a script to log on to CompuServ CIS.PCS and a script to log on to GENIE GENIE.PCS.

A script may be prepared using a word processor or by using the COPY command in PC-DOS. A script is an ASCII file so if you are using your favorite word processor to create it, you should save it in non-document format. The second way to create a script is to use the PC-DOS copy command. To create a script named CIS.PCS using the PC-DOS COPY command, enter the following command and text:

COPY CON CIS.PCS<cr>
TERM 1

select terminal 1
dial phone number
wait for modem message
wait 2 seconds

DIAL       ATDT4576133~
WAIT      CONNECT
DELA      2

SEND      ^C
WAIT      User ID:
SEND      70575,406~
WAIT      Password:
PASS      chev327v8~
WAIT      !

send ^C to network
wait for used id prompt
send user number
wait for password prompt
send your unique password

wait for ! prompt
command to go to IBM SIG
end of script

SEND G IBMSIG~
STOP

^Z<cr>

depress ctrl-Z and <cr>

13.31 Western Union Easylink (tm)

Western Union Easylink is a provider of electronic mail services. Easylink is the new software interface for the Telex/TWX network which allows a user to send Email to Telex and TWX subscribers in the US and foreign countries plus send telegrams, mailgrams, and access databases through FYI.

The PC-PLOT-IV program can be used to simplify the command structure of Easylink.

Create a script similar to the following:

TERM DIAL WAIT DELA WAIT SEND STOP

select terminal 1
dial phone number
wait for modem message
wait 2 seconds
wait for ESL prompt

ATDT28111 l 1~
CONNECT

2
ID:

01 ESL123456 YOUR.PASS~ send user number & password

end of script

Use the ALT-G command to execute the script while in PC-PLOT-IV.

To read messages from your mailbox, depress ALT-Y to turn on the printer and enter the command /MBX<cr>. To send messages, preformat them using a text editor while you are off-line and then upload them with an ALT-U command. You should use an LTA character of <lf> with Easylink.

Example message format:

62186730(MICROPLOT UD)+ Easylink or telex number
TO: Microplot Systems

FROM:-John Smith Subject:PC-PLOT

.... message.....

MMMM end of message indicator

To exit from Easylink, enter the command /QUIT<cr> at the PTS prompt.

13.32 CAS Online

CAS Online is a service of Chemical Abstract Service in Columbus, Ohio. They are a division of the American Chemical Society and provide a major database for chemists. Bibliographic and structure files are available through their service.

The following script example assumes that you are using a Hayes Smartmodem (or compatible).

By specifying a type 2 terminal when you log on to CAS Online, you can display structures in high resolution graphics with your personal computer, save entire online sessions on disk to minimize connect time, and draw the structures while off-line on a dot matrix printer or plotter.

Since the log on syntax varies throughout the country, the example shown might be different than required in your location. The example assumes access through Telenet.

TERM

select terminal 1
dial phone number
wait for modem message
wait 2 seconds

DIAL

ATDT4576133~

WAIT

CONNECT

DELA

WAIT

telenet prompt

SEND

~|~

send 2 <cr>'s to network
wait for term. type prompt
send terminal type

WAIT

type

SEND

A8~

WAIT

host

wait for host name prompt
send the host number of CAS
wait for ID prompt

SEND

C123456~

WAIT

SEND

ZZZCASADAMS~

send user name
wait for prompt
send password
end of script

WAIT

password

PASS

powerSglide~

STOP

If you want to save the entire session for printing offline, enter the following command into your script after the password.

SAVE cas0928 save all output in file cas0928
TILL LOG Y save till user logs out
STOP

Every time that the message 'COPY and CLEAR PAGE PLEASE' appears, depress the ALT-W or ALT = command so that a page break is inserted into the file between each page of output.

Enter the command LOG Y<cr> to log off of CAS. As soon as you get the @ prompt for Telenet, enter an ALT-D command to hang up the telephone line.

When you are off-line, you can then draw the structures on the screen with an ALT-M command.

13.33 CompuServ Information Service

The CompuServ Information Service (CIS) is a general purpose information provider available over dedicated CIS ports in most major cities and via Telenet in other areas. If you are using Telenet to access CIS, refer to the login instructions for CAS Online above.

Create a script similar to the one below to log into Compuserv. If you want to see the prompt for EMAIL, you will have to turn echo on with the ECON command.

TERM

select terminal 1
dial phone number
wait for modem message
wait 2 seconds

DIAL

ATDT4576133~

WAIT

CONNECT

DELA

SEND

send ^C to network
wait for used id prompt
send user number

WAIT

User ID:

SEND

70575,406~

WAIT

Password:

wait for password prompt
send your unique password
wait for ! prompt
command to go to IBM SIG
end of script

PASS

chev327v8~

WAIT

SEND

G IBMSIG~

STOP

13.34 General Electric Information Service (GENIE)

GENIE is a general purpose information provider available over dedicated ports in most major cities and via Telenet in other areas.

Create a script similar to the one below to log into GENIE. If you want to see the prompt for EMAIL, you will have to use the ECON command.

TERM DIAL WAIT DELA SEND WAIT PASS WAIT SEND STOP

4
ATDT2635282~
CONNECT

2
HHH~
U#=
XPCI l l l l,disk$brakes~
<H>elp?

MOVE 601;2~

PC-PLOT-IV Chapter 13 Script Language

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