readme.txt

PacketPeT Lite For Windows
Copyright (c) 1993, 1994
Chuck Harrington Software, Inc
All Rights Reserved!

1.0 THANKS FOR TRYING PacketPeT Lite For Windows!

PeT Lite contains a significant portion of the features of the
full retail version of PeT, PacketPeT for Windows. 

PacketPeT was written by Chuck Harrington, WA4GPF, of Orlando,
Florida, USA. The name PET, was derived from the name
Pack-Et-Term, the author's previous packet offerings, written for
the Atari ST computers. (Thank you loyal Atari users but there
are and will be no further upgrades to the ATARI version beyond
the last version, v4.5)

PacketPeT Lite For Windows is shareware. PeT Lite is a complete
program, and not just a demo, though some features will be
inoperative until you have entered your registration number and
amateur call sign. The cost of registration of PeT Lite is only
$25, and further information can be found in the file
register.txt or in the Online Windows type help.


2.0 INSTALLATION:

You will require approximately 1.2 mb of free space on your drive
in order to install PacketPeT Lite For Windows!

Several batch files are included to install PeT Lite. 

INSTALLC.BAT        -             Installs PeT to drive C: 
INSTALLD.BAT        -             Installs PeT to drive D:
INSTALLE.BAT        -             Installs PeT to drive E:

The install batch file creates the directory \PACKET to hold all
the program files. (If you already have a \PACKET directory on
that drive, or wish to have the directory renamed, you will have
to edit the batch file before installation.)

TO INSTALL PET LITE:

1. From a DOS prompt, go to the directory in which you have your
unzipped PeT files.

2. type INSTALLC, INSTALLD or INSTALLE <Return>.  The directory
PACKET directory will be created and the files will be
transferred.

3. Run Windows, and from the FILE menu, select NEW. With PROGRAM
ITEM selected, click OK. The PeT Icon will be added to your
program group.

4. PeT Lite is now installed. You can now run PeT Lite by double
clicking the PeT icon.


3.0 RUNNING PET THE FIRST TIME

If another packet software package has been used with your TNC,
make sure you exited the program and left the TNC in COMMAND
MODE. If the software left your TNC in HOST mode, you will
experience difficulties! (This applies to PK/KA GOLD users and
others..)

1. Double Click the PeT icon. You will see a dialog box that
shows PeT's copyright notice, etc. After you have read the
information, click OK.

2. The next dialog box explains you are about to be asked for
serial port settings. You most likely have your mouse on COM1,
and your TNC on serial port COM2. You must determine what COM
port you have your TNC connected to, and it is very helpful to
know the TNCs present baud rate, word length, parity and so on.
Click OK to move on.

3. The serial port settings dialog box now comes up. Make any
necessary changes and click OK.

The PeT Lite Application window will now open. Hit <return> and
hopefully your TNC respond with a cmd: prompt. If it does not,
try turning the TNC on and off and look for some gibberish kind
of stuff like 4453ljljl;jsg;ljksdfg .... This indicates that your
TNC and PeT are not both communicating with the same serial port
settings. 

You can alter PeT's serial port settings from the SETTINGS |
SERIAL PORT menu. Once PeT is talking to the TNC, make a note of
your serial port settings. You will have to enter them each time
you run PeT Lite, UNTIL you have entered your call sign and user
password.


4.0 ONCE PET IS RUNNING, EXTENSIVE ONLINE HELP IS AVAILABLE. 

SHIFT <F1> changes the mouse cursor to a pointer / question mark
and indicates you are in context sensitive mode. Just click any
button or menu item and the help application will be opened to
the topic you have just chosen!

or:
SHADE A MENU ITEM, then hit the <F1> key to go directly to the
shaded topic.

or:
Hit <F1> to bring up the HELP CONTENTS.

or:
From the menu bar HELP | INDEX to bring up the contents or HELP |

or
HELP | USING to get more information on how to operate a Windows
type help system. There is a great deal of illustrated help
available from PeT and the Windows Help System is well worth the
time it takes to learn how to navigate it!   



5.0 Program Requirements

PeT requires some kind of hardware TNC, and will work with most
of them! Host or KISS Modes ARE NOT required, and even the RETAIL
VERSION of PeT, PacketPeT For Windows, is able to implement it's
advanced features without resorting to the restrictions of Host
Mode.

PeT is a Windows program,  and requires Microsoft Windows version
3.0 or later, or IBM OS/2 2.0 or later. 

A Mouse or other pointing device is highly recommended!

The following files are included in the PACKPET.ZIP file:

PACKET.EXE     -     The actual program.
PACKET.HLP     -     The help file.
BWCC.DLL       -     The Borland controls dynamic link library.
INSTALLC.BAT   -     Installs PeT on drive C:
INSTALLD.BAT   -     Installs PeT on drive D:
INSTALLE.BAT   -     Installs PeT on drive E:
SET_C.PET      -     INSTALLC.BAT renames to SETTINGS.PET.
SET_D.PET      -     INSTALLD.BAT renames to SETTINGS.PET.
SET_E.PET      -     INSTALLE.BAT renames to SETTINGS.PET.
LICENSE.TXT    -     User license Information file.
WARRANTY.TXT   -     Warranty disclaimer information.
RETAIL.TXT     -     Information on PacketPeT For Windows.
ORDER.TXT      -     Order Blank to register / order Pet.
REGISTER.TXT   -     Registration information file.
README.TXT     -     The file you are presently reading!
HARDWARE.TXT   -     Solving hardware conflict problems.
ANSI_PET.TXT   -     Sample ANSI Color Graphics picture.


When you install PeT, the file SETTINGS.PET is created by
renaming one of the files SET_C.PET, SET_D.PET or SET_E.PET,
depending on which hard drive partition you installed to.
Once the program is registered, the file settings.pet will be
saved to the \PACKET directory, every time you exit PeT
(providing the SETTINGS | SAVE SETTINGS ON EXIT is checked). This
file stores all your user settings and preferences so you do not
have to enter them every time you run the program.

6.0 Troubleshooting

A few users may experience difficulty in establishing initial
communication with the TNC. This type of problem is usually
caused by an improper Windows configuration or hardware conflict.

If you are unable to get the TNC to talk to PeT, try these
things:

Exit PeT and run the TERMINAL program which is included with
every copy of Microsoft Windows and is normally in the
ACCESSORIES program group. Verify that the TERMINAL program can
contact your TNC. Once you are able to communicate with your TNC,
go to the menu SETTINGS | COMMUNICATIONS and make a note of the
current settings (baud rate, data bits, parity, stop bits). You
can now exit the TERMINAL and run PeT. Enter the settings you
previously noted when prompted for the serial port settings. PeT
should now be talking to the TNC.

If you are unable to get the Windows TERMINAL program to talk to
the TNC, and have tried different settings combinations from the
SETTINGS | COMMUNICATIONS menu, make sure you have the TNC
plugged in to the proper port connector on the back of your PC!

If you still can't talk to the TNC, you may have a hardware
conflict. Check the jumpers on your adapter cards and make sure
no two cards have the same IRQ setting. Internal Modems, tape
backups, CDROMS, sound cards and other devices all use IRQs, and
could be a source of conflict

More information regarding hardware problems can be found in the
file hardware.txt.

7.0 Graphics
PeT can send and receive two types of graphics that are
frequently seen on packet networks. The first graphic, sometimes
known as a "brag", is a simple text file that contains characters
of the IBM OEM character set arranged in such a manner as to
appear to be a picture. To receive this, you must MAKE SURE YOU
ARE USING THE TERMINAL FONT, which is PeT's default. If you are
using Courier or some other font, the graphic will be displayed
incorrectly. You also must make sure that your TNC's 8BITCONV IS
ON, and you are using 8 bits for the DATA BITS setting on the
serial port link, so that the upper character bit is not
stripped!

The second type of graphic that has recently started to appear
is an ANSI Graphic. These are in color, and contain control codes
to control text and background colors. In addition to meeting the
conditions stated above, you will need to go to the menu 
SETTINGS | ANSI Color to enable reception of color graphics. You
must also be on the A - STREAM, as ANSI color is not properly
displayed on the * - ALL IO stream. Registration is required in
order to enable the display of ANSI graphics.


Creating a Text graphic / Brag:

The simple text graphic can be created using PeT's editor.
Symbols not appearing on the keyboard may be entered by holding
down the <ALT> key, and entering the number 0254 on the numeric
keypad. This <Alt> 0254 combination, would enter the symbol for
the code 254! Another way, is to use the CHARACTER MAP accessory
that comes with every copy of Windows 3.1, and while displaying
the TERMINAL font, simply copy the symbols you want to the
clipboard, and use the EDIT | PASTE command to enter them into
PeT's Editor. Save your completed graphic as a file, or select
it, with the EDIT | SELECTALL command  <ALT>(CTRlL><A> and then
send it using the <ALT><CTRL><S>, EDIT | SEND SELECTED command.


Creating an ANSI Color graphic:

Making a color graphic is not as simple. A text editor, like that
contained in PeT will not display the graphic correctly. An ANSI
COLOR editor is needed to create this type of graphic. On many of
the phone Bulletin Boards, and at your shareware houses, there is
a fine program called THEDRAW. THEDRAW will enable you to easily
create your color graphics. If you continue to use THEDRAW, you
should register it, as it is shareware.

Once created, the ANSI color graphic may be loaded into PeT's
text editor, and sent using the method outlined above. ANSI color
is attractive and a lot of fun to play with! 

NOTE: With PacketPeT, you DO NOT need to load the DOS ANSI
driver, ANSI.SYS!!


8.0 Additional Features

Some users will want support for multiple connections, modes
other than packet and other features. These features and more
will be found in the full retail version of PacketPeT, PacketPeT
For Windows! For more information read the file RETAIL.TXT, or
consult the Online information. A liberal upgrade policy insures
that the money you invest in registration of PacketPeT Lite
Windows can be 100% applied to upgrade to PacketPeT For Windows!

Your comments and suggestion are appreciated! PacketPeT is
nearing in third year of development and is and will remain 
"a moving target". Improvements are planned, for both the Lite and 
Full versions.



9.0 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you still need additional help, Call:

Chuck Harrington at (407) 679-9017 or leave EMAIL at the following online
services:

Ameica Online  - ID is  ChuckORL
Compuserve     - ID is  72067,3514
Genie          - ID is  C. Harrington

If you elect to telephone, the best chance of talking to Chuck is
in the mornings, Eastern Standard Time. At other times, an answering machine
is online and calls are returned as soon as possible(to continental U.S.), 
usually within 24 hrs.


73
Chuck Harrington
