3. Running PC-PLOT-IV for the first time         
                           
3.0 Overview                       
                           
In this section, the procedure for running PC-PLOT-IV for the first time will be presented as well as a discussion of the user interface. 
                           
The only initial setup required with PC-PLOT-IV is to enter the parameters for the serial communication link between your IBM-PC and the local network host or remote dial-up host computer. 
                           
3.1 Starting PC-PLOT                   
                           
The following discussion assumes that you have placed your PC-PLOT-IV graphics diskette in drive A (for a diskette system) or that you are in the directory which contains the PC-PLOT-IV files for a fixed disk system. 
                           
  Enter the following command:             
                           
    C>PCPLOT<cr>                     
                           
  After you have run PC-PLOT-IV the first time, there are two other optional methods of starting up the program.     
                           
    C>PCPLOT Tx<cr>                 
                           
  The Tx indicates that the user wants to start up the program with Terminal #x (1-8) active instead of the default #1.     
                           
    C>PCPLOT <script name><cr>           
                           
  If PC-PLOT-IV is started up with the script option, the program willsearch the currently defined subdirectory from the SET PCPLOT= command or the current subdirectory for a script file with the same root name with the extension .PCS. The following command   
                           
    C>PCPLOT CHEM<cr>               
                           
  Would look for a script file named CHEM.PCS.       
                           
The first time that you run PC-PLOT-IV, you will be asked what type of display board that you have. There are 14 options to select from., Make certain you select the correct one or else the copy of PC-PLOT-IV you create may not run. Make a selection with a letter and <cr>. 
                           
The next screen that will appear is the ALT-S setup menu which is the main setup screen for the communications parameters for PC-PLOT-IV. The ALT-S setup screen is covered in great detail in section 10 of this manual. 
                           
For your initial testing of the setup of PC-PLOT-IV, there are only a few items which may need to be set. The ALT-S setup menu is very easy to use. The up/down cursor arrow keys move the selection cursor to the name of the item to change. Some 
items, like the terminal number or terminal name, require a letter or number key to be pressed. Most other options can be selected by depressing <cr> until the correct option appears. 
                           
        NOTE: You MUST always have a correct setup defined for terminal configuration #1 (which is the one 
                  that you see now. Terminal #1 is the default startup settings that are used when PC-PLOT-IV 
                  is run. 		        
                               
      Initially, you should Edit the following items (if necessary) in the ALT-S setup menu:
                               
                             
                               
        Terminal Name 
Channel Number 
Computer Type 
Screen Resolution 
Communications Rate 
Data Format 		   Appears on the bottom line of screen 
Communication port to be used 
Usually PC/XT/AT/AT+T 		    
          Selects graphics board type             
          Must match your modem or host computer 
7 O 1 most common 		  
        Local Echo 
Printer Type 		     Off for full duplex systems 
Selects graphics printscreen driver 		      
                               
        NOTE: If you select an improper graphics board type, PC-PLOT-IV will 'crash' on entry to the main 
                               program. You will be unable to regain control of the computer unless you reset it with a 
                               CTRL-ALT-DEL key sequence or power down. 		          
                               
          If you make an incorrect selection and your computer 'crashes', you will have to erase the setup file that PC-PLOT-IV has created before you can run the program again. Use the following command to erase the setup file:       
                               
          C>ERASE PCPLOT.SET<cr>               
                               
          Return to section 3.1 and run PCPLOT again. Answer the question about the graphics board type again and select the correct items in the ALT-S menu which appears following the graphics board type.       
                               
  After you have made the correct selections, depress ALT-S to save your new setup file for use the next time you run PC-PLOT-IV. The screen will clear and the following notice will appear. 
                               
 
        PC-PLOT-IV Vers. 4.xxx 
Tektronix Graphics Terminal Emulation Program 
With Advanced Communication Features
--- xx/xx/87 --		      
                               Copyright (C) 1982,83,84,85,86,87 MicroPlot         
                               

3.2 Command/Status line 		                
                               
When PC-PLOT-IV is running on your computer, 24 lines of character data can be displayed on the 25 line screen. The 25th line is reserved for status messages and commands. 
                               
There are three basic types of messages which will appear on line 25; status messages, error messages, and prompts for an input. 
                               
    < Status Message >                     
                               
    <## Error Message ##>                   
                               
    Enter Filename ............. >                   
                               
Anytime a prompt message for an input appears on line 25, you can abort the function that you have entered by entering a <cr> which will return you to the communications mode of PC-PLOT-IV. 
                               
    Status Line on PC-PLOT-IV startup:           
                               
      | Terminal # 2 Default Setup | Now Online | ALT-H For HELP Menu |   
                               
When you see the status line above appear, you are now online with your host if you are using a direct connection or connected with your modem. 
                               
To determine if all of your settings are correct, you should draw one of the picture files supplied with PC-PLOT-IV before continuing. To draw a picture file, depress ALT-M. PC-PLOT-IV users should select file type I (Tek 4010) unless they selected Tek 4027 emulation in the ALT-S menu. Select option 3 for a 4027 type picture. PC-PLOT-IV+ users should select file type 4 (4105). Enter the name of the test picture which matches your terminal emulation type: 
                               
    Tek 4010   CHAPLIN               
    Tek 4027   COLORSYLT             
    TEK 4105   TEK4105.PIC             
                               
  Depress <cr> after the picture filename and the picture will be drawn.     
                               
The following section describes all of the local ALT- commands available in PC-PLOT-IV. Review it and then continue on to section 5 to test your program setup. 
                               
PC-PLOT-IV    Chapter 3   Running PC-PLOT-IV

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