J This is to announce version 4.03 of CP/M-80 Kermit.  This is a "beta test"H of a major new release, and will not replace the current version (3.9A),! until it has proven to be stable.   I The major change is the decomposition of the program into a collection of G modules, a`la MDMxxx, with a new procedure that allows combining custom M "configuration overlays" with the system-independent portions of the program. O This allows fixes or new features to be added to the protocol without requiring K reassembly of the program for each system supported, and conversely, allows N support for new systems to be added (or old ones fixed) without reassembly forI the other systems.  An added benefit of the breakup of the old monolithic K source file into smaller files is managability on systems with limited disk N storage -- at 176K, the version 3.9A source file exceeded the capacity of many common floppies.  K The modular decomposition is not quite complete, however, since the system- D dependent code for all systems is still combined in one module, withH assembly time conditionals for each system.  A future release will breakJ this module, CP4SYS.ASM, into separate, unconditionalized modules for each system.   / Here are some of the new features of version 4:    * New systems:  A Support has been added for several new systems or configurations:   %     Apple II, Z80 Softcard, 6551 ACIA      BigBoard II      CPT-85xx word processer      Digicomp Delphi 100      Morrow Micro Decision I   H However, support that was recently added to version 3 of CP/M Kermit forF systems like the Heath H8 and Compupro Interfacer 3/4 is not included;, volunteers are needed to do the conversions.   * Terminal support:   E For micros without integral consoles, one of several terminals may be J chosen (among them VT100, VT52, and ADM-3A), as well as the generic "CRT".   * Debugging aids:   N SET DEBUG ON will add two fields to the SEND/RECEIVE display, labelled "Spack"N and "Rpack".  These display the last packet sent or received.  Of course, thisK slows down the transfer, especially if the console is an external terminal. # SET DEBUG OFF removes these fields.   L The VERSION command displays the name, edit number, and edit date of several# of the modules that make up Kermit.    * TAC support:  H ARPAnet TACs (and probably some other communication devices like modems,O multiplexers, port contention units) use a printing character (normally "@") as O an intercept character, to allow commands to be issued to the TAC.  In order to N send this character to the host, it must be typed twice.  The command "SET TACM CHARACTER" to Kermit enables the TACtrap and asks the user to specify the TAC J intercept character.  This character will be automatically doubled when itM appears in Kermit protocol messages (sent by the SEND or RECEIVE commands) or J when it appears in a file being sent with the TRANSMIT command.  It is notK automatically doubled when typed by the user in CONNECT mode.  "SET TAC ON" M enables the TACtrap but does not change the TAC intercept character, which is 3 initially "@".  "SET TAC OFF" disables the TACtrap.    * File buffering:   M Previous versions of Kermit-80 buffered only one sector (128 bytes) at a time J during file transfer operations.  This version buffers 16Kbytes at a time,K reducing the number of times the floppy drive must be spun up and down, and K increasing the effective throughput of the link.  If the disk transfer rate K is too slow, howver, the remote Kermit may time out and retransmit packets. M This will show up on the screen in the "Retries:" field; if this occurs after G disk activity, you may want to increase the timeout value on the remote M Kermit, or reassemble Kermit with a smaller value for MAXSEC (in CP4SYS.ASM). I This buffer is also used by the TRANSMIT command; the log file enabled by 4 the LOG command is still written a sector at a time.   * Baud Rate Setting:  M The format of the SET BAUD-RATE command has been changed for several systems. L Rather than requesting the user to enter a letter for the speed, the desiredI baud rate is supplied on the command line (e.g. "SET BAUD 1200").  A list J of supported baud rates may be obtained by typing "SET BAUD ?".  If KermitO cannot change the baud rate for your system, it will reply "(not implemented)".    * Generic CP/M 2.2 Support:   I The "generic" Kermit-80 for CP/M 2.2 (assembly switch GENER) supports six J port selections, to improve the chances of finding one that works.  KermitJ reads from PTR: and writes to PTP: by default;  if this does not work, tryI "SET PORT TTY".  The following table lists the CP/M devices used for each  option:   " 	SET PORT xxx	input from	output to 	    CRT		   CRT:		   CRT: 	    PTR		   PTR:		   PTP: 	    TTY		   TTY:		   TTY: 	    UC1		   UC1:		   UC1: 	    UR1		   UR1:		   UP1: 	    UR2		   UR2:		   UP2:  G In all cases, the console (CON:) and list (LST:) devices used are those   selected when Kermit is started.   * How to Get It:  L The files are in KER:CP4*.* on CU20B, available via anonymous FTP.  CU20B isN Internet host [192.5.43.128].  The source files have the extension (file type)K .ASM, the hex files .HEX.  There is also a new Kermit User Guide chapter in M KER:CP4KER.DOC and .MSS (Scribe text formatter source).  A list of known bugs K and deficiencies is in KER:CP4KER.BWR (this file will be updated as reports 	 come in).   O Note that a new, somewhat more complicated, installation procedure is required. N Two hex files -- the system-dependent part, and the "configuration overlay" --E must be combined and then loaded.  Detailed instructions are given in  KER:CP4KER.DOC.   E The program may be built with the public-domain assembler and linker, H LASM and MLOAD, or on the DEC-10 or DEC-20 with Bruce Tanner's MAC80 andK LINK80.  Unfortunately, it can no longer be built with ASM and LOAD because B multiple files are used (this is the price we pay for modularity).K LASM, MLOAD, MAC80, and LINK80 are all in the <KERMIT-TOOLS> area on CU20B, I for those who need them.  <KERMIT-TOOLS> can be referred to as KT:, as in 
 KT:MLOAD.HEX.   $ The following systems are supported:   Symbol  Filename System  ------  -------- ------ F AP6551  CP4APL   Apple II, Z80 Softcard, 6551 ACIA in serial interface@ APMMDM  CP4APM   Apple II, Z80 Softcard, Micromodem II in slot 20 BBII    CP4BB2   BigBoard II (terminal required)% BRAIN   CP4BRN   Intertec SuperBrain. I CPM3    CP4CP3   "generic": CP/M 3.0 (CP/M Plus) systems (terminal req'd) ; CPT85XX	CP4CPT	 CPT-85xx word processors with CompuPak CP/M 8 DELPHI  CP4DEL   Digicomp Delphi 100 (terminal required), DMII    CP4DM2   DECmate II with CP/M optionH GENER   CP4GEN   "generic": CPM 2.2 systems with IOBYTE (terminal req'd)" HEATH   CP4H89   Heath/Zenith H89.H KPII    CP4KPR   Kaypro-II (and 4; probably supports all Kaypro systems)6 MDI     CP4MDI   Morrow Decision I (terminal required) MIKKO   CP4MIK   MikroMikko < MMDI    CP4UDI   Morrow Micro Decision I (terminal required) OSBRN1  CP4OSB   Osborne 1  OSI     CP4OSI   Ohio Scientific ROBIN   CP4ROB   DEC VT180& TELCON  CP4TEL   TELCON Zorba portableA TRS80LB CP4TLB   TRS-80 model II with Lifeboat 2.25C CP/M Display B TRS80PT CP4TPT   TRS-80 model II with Pickles + Trout CP/M Display! VECTOR  CP4VEC   Vector Graphics. $ Z100    CP4Z00   Z-100 under CP/M-85  G The "symbol" is used in CP4SYS.ASM for assembly purposes.  The filename H shows where to find the .HEX file in KER: on CU20B, e.g. KER:CP4Z00.HEX.    H Please try out the new version and report any bugs to Info-Kermit@CU20B.H Also, please feel free to add support to CP4SYS.ASM for systems that areH not supported, and to make enhancements to those that are; for instance,= most systems are still not able to send a 250ms BREAK signal.   F Version 3.9A of CP/M-80 Kermit continues to be available as KER:CPM*.*, on CU20B, but will eventually be phased out.