Chapter 9 - Managing Parameter Files
The ATE parameter files let you override the default settings provided by configured connections. A parameter file is an ASCII file that uses a special format to provide information to the ATE service. You can use a parameter file to connect to a host computer over direct lines, dial-out lines, X.25 lines, or a server development connection, or to change some settings such as the line speed or terminal type.
There are several ways to use a parameter file: choose it from ATE menus, specify it as a switch on the ASYNCH command, or load it from the terminal emulation screens.
The three types of parameter files are:
|
Files that name a connection configured as part of the ATE service. Any settings specified in the file override the defaults used by configured connections. |
|
|
Files that contain a phone number for dial-out to a remote host. Only lines with an auto-dial modem are used. Any other parameters specified override the defaults used by configured connections. |
|
|
Partial parameter files that do not contain a connection or a phone number. These files provide only the ability to override default settings. |
A parameter file can be used to make a connection only if it contains a telephone number or a connection name. A partial parameter file can not be used to start a host session because it does not contain a phone number or a connection name.
Parameter files that you create with the Banyan ATE menus are not compatible with third-party terminal emulation software, which may use its own parameter files. You should verify that third-party parameter files work properly when you run third-party terminal emulation software with the ATE option.
Creating Files That Use a Configured Connection
To create a parameter file that uses a configured connection, follow these steps:
1. From the DOS prompt, enter ASYNCH and provide a connection name. Alternatively, enter HOSTS and choose a connection.
2. Display the Action Menu.
- If no line or virtual circuit is available, the Action Menu appears.
- If a line is available, you enter terminal emulation and you must press HOME to display the Action Menu. (If you are emulating an IBM 3101, you press HOME or CTRL-HOME.)
3. Follow the instructions in "Changing the Current Settings" later in this chapter to override any settings.
4. Follow the instructions in "Saving the Current Settings in a File" later in this chapter to save the settings to a file.
Creating Files That Contain Phone Numbers
To create a parameter file that contains phone numbers, enter ASYNCH or HOSTS at the DOS prompt.
If you chose ASYNCH, follow these steps:
1. Press HOME or CTRL-HOME to display the Action Menu.
2. Follow the instructions in "Changing the Current Settings" later in this chapter to assign a telephone number.
3. Follow the instructions in "Saving the Current Settings in a File" later in this chapter to save the settings to a file.
If you chose HOSTS, follow these steps:
1. Choose SET UP a Dial-out Connection. You enter terminal emulation without an active session with the host. The Change Current Settings menu appears, as shown in "Changing the Current Settings" later in this chapter.
2. Follow the instructions in "Changing the Current Settings" later in this chapter to assign a telephone number.
3. Follow the instructions in "Saving the Current Settings in a File" later in this chapter to save the settings to a file.
To create a partial parameter file to override default settings, enter ASYNCH or HOSTS at the DOS prompt.
If you chose ASYNCH, follow these steps:
1. Press HOME or CTRL-HOME to display the Action Menu.
2. Follow the instructions in "Changing the Current Settings" later in this chapter to override settings.
3. Follow the instructions in "Saving the Current Settings in a File" later in this chapter to save the settings to a file.
If you chose HOSTS, follow these steps:
1. Choose SET UP a Dial-out Connection. You enter terminal emulation without an active session with the host. The Change Current Settings menu appears, as shown in "Changing the Current Settings" later in this chapter.
2. Follow the instructions in "Changing the Current Settings" later in this chapter to override settings.
3. Follow the instructions in "Saving the Current Settings in a File" later in this chapter to save the settings to a file.
To edit an existing parameter file, use this procedure:
1. From the DOS prompt, enter ASYNCH and provide a parameter filename. You can specify a connection name as well. Alternatively, enter HOSTS and choose a parameter file.
2. If no line or virtual circuit is available, the Action Menu appears. If a line is available, you enter terminal emulation. To display the Action Menu (Figure 9-1), you press HOME, or CTRL-HOME if emulating an IBM 3101.
You can also edit a parameter file by entering terminal emulation and then loading the file. See "Changing the Current Settings" and "Loading Settings from a File" later in this chapter for more information.
Using the Action Menu with Parameter Files
To help you use parameter files, an Action Menu and several other menus are included as part of the ATE option. The menus provide an easy-to-use format for creating, editing, testing, and saving parameter files.
The Action Menu provides several functions that are useful for working with parameter files. Table 9-1 describes these functions.
The sections that follow explain how to change settings, load them in from a file, and save them to a file. For additional details on the Action Menu and the user's view of ATE, see Chapter 7 and Chapter 8.
To change settings, choose the Change Current Settings option at the Action Menu. The Change Current Settings screen (Figure 9-2) appears.
Before you change any settings, find out about your site's host computer requirements and the hardware used to connect to the host. To experiment with parameter files, you can test new settings and then change them back if your experiments don't work.
To return to the Action Menu, press ESC.
The sections that follow describe how to assign a telephone number and how to change communications, data transfer, and terminal settings. You must save any changes you make if you want to use those settings again.
For details on defaults and valid ranges for settings, see Appendix A. You can also press F1 to view detailed help.
You can choose this option only if there is no active session. The rules for entering phone numbers are described in "Configuring Dial-out Lines" in Chapter 4. Included in the description is a table of special characters you can use (Table 4-2) and some short examples of telephone numbers.
When you have finished typing in the telephone number, press ENTER. You return to the Change Current Settings menu with a dial-out connection specified.
To cancel anything you have typed, press ESC. You return to the Change Current Settings menu and retain the previous value for the phone number.
Changing Communication Settings
If you choose Change Communication Settings from the Change Current Settings menu, the Change Communication Settings screen, shown in the following illustration, appears.
To change communications settings, follow these steps:
1. Using the arrow keys, select the value you want to change, then press ENTER. The cursor moves to the next setting.
2. Repeat step 1 until you have made all of your changes.
3. When you have finished making changes, press F10 to accept the changes. To cancel them and retain the previous values, press ESC. In either case, you return to the Change Current Settings menu.
The settings for this screen are described in Table 9-2.
When you choose Change Terminal Settings from the Change Current Settings menu, the Change Terminal Settings menu ( Figure 9-4) appears.
To change terminal settings, perform these steps:
1. Using the arrow keys, select the value you want to change, then press ENTER. For tab settings, enter them in as explained above. The cursor moves to the next setting.
2. Repeat step 1 until you have made all your changes.
3. When you have finished making changes, press F10 to accept them. To cancel the changes and retain the previous values, press ESC. In either case, you return to the Change Current Settings menu.
The settings for this screen are described in Table 9-3.
Changing Data Transfer Settings
When you choose Change Data Transfer Settings from the Change Current Settings menu, the Change Data Transfer Settings menu (Figure 9-5) appears.
To change data transfer settings, perform these steps:
1. Using the arrow keys, highlight the value you want to change, then press ENTER. The cursor moves to the next setting.
2. Repeat step 1 until you have made all your changes.
3. When you have finished making changes, press F10 to accept the changes. To cancel the changes and retain the previous values, press ESC. In either case, you return to the Change Current Settings menu.
The settings for this screen are described in Table 9-4.
To use settings stored in a parameter file, choose Use Settings from a File from the Change Current Settings menu. You can use the settings in the file to make a connection, or as the basis for creating or editing a parameter file.
When you choose Use Settings from a File, you are prompted for a filename.
If the file exists in the current directory, enter a filename and optional extension. If you provide no extension, the default is .ATP.
If the file you want is not in the current directory, you must enter a pathname to indicate the proper disk drive, directory name, or both. A pathname can be up to 63 characters long.
When you have finished, press ENTER. The settings are reset, and you return to the Change Current Settings menu. To cancel this procedure and retain the previous settings, press ESC. You return to the Change Current Settings menu.
When you have reset the current settings with a parameter file, you use the Action Menu to start or resume a connection with the new settings. If you want to change settings that are in the file, use the Change Current Settings menu, or leave emulation and use an editor. Remember to save the settings if you want to use them again. The next section, "Saving the Current Settings in a File," describes how to save settings in a file.
Saving the Current Settings in a File
You can save the current settings in a file by choosing Change Current Settings from the Action Menu. You can then load the file into emulation sessions or provide it to users on the Select a Connection menu.
When you choose this option, you are prompted for a filename in which to store the current settings.
If you want to store the settings in a file in the current directory, type a filename and optional extension, then press ENTER. The default extension is .ATP. To use another directory, specify a pathname of up to 63 characters.
If the specified file does not exist, it is created. If it already exists, the new information writes over the previous contents of the file. If the specified file cannot be created, you remain on the same screen and an error message is displayed at the bottom of the screen.
To cancel the procedure, press ESC. No connection file is created and you return to the previous menu.
You can work with a parameter file using any standard ASCII text editor. You can use the text editor to create the file, or to edit a file saved from the ATE menus.
This section explains the format used in parameter files, and shows a sample parameter file.
A parameter file uses keywords to assign values to settings used by ATE. Each keyword must appear on a separate line, separated from the value that follows by at least one space.
A parameter file is not case sensitive - you can use any combination of upper and lower-case letters.
The following example sets the line speed:
speed 9600
The following keywords enable you to create a parameter file that is usable to connect to host computers:
Connection
PhoneNumber
Connection must be followed by a space and the name of a connection configured as part of a service.
PhoneNumber must be followed by a space and a valid phone number. For details on the syntax of phone numbers, see "Assigning a Telephone Number" earlier in this chapter.
If you omit both of these keywords, the parameter file is a partial one. If you use either keyword, it must appear before any scripting commands in the file.
Here are some examples of using these keywords:
ConnectionDowJones
PhoneNumberT9,222-2222
Do not specify both a connection name and a phone number in the same file.
To help organize the file, you can include comments. Comment lines begin with semicolons, as follows:
;Terminal settings start here
You can include scripting commands in the file, if you wish. See Chapter 6 for information.
The sample parameter file in the next section shows all the keywords for specifying settings. For information on default and valid alternate settings for each keyword, see Appendix A and "Changing the Current Settings" earlier in this chapter.
This section shows the contents of a typical parameter file, illustrating the format given in the previous section. All parameter files have this general form, although the first item can be a connection name, a telephone number, or omitted entirely.
