REDIRECT.SYS
(shareware)
A SERIAL PORT DEVICE DRIVER FOR REDIRECTING I/O DURING REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS
Copyright 1990 Infinity Design Concepts Inc
1052 Parkway Drive
Louisville, Kentucky 40217-2333
Voice: (502) 636-1234 Modem: (502) 635-5471
Written by Gary Conway
WHAT IS REDIRECT FOR?
-------------------
REDIRECT is a device driver, loaded via the config.sys file. It is
intended to be used with IDCCOM (tm), but may be used with any
communications package, running under DOS 2.x or above with full
features. With DOS versions 2.x and below, the only COM port that
may be used is COM1 and this MAY NOT be specified on the command
line, since the device driver loading routines do not support
command lines in the CONFIG.SYS file in DOS versions below 3.x.
NOTE: Even though the filename for the device driver is
REDIRECT.SYS, the logical device installed by the
driver is named IDCDOS. It would be much nicer to have
the driver with the same name as the logical device, but
this would confuse DOS when the device driver is
loaded and then trying to copy a fresh copy of it to your
hard drive. The system will lock up since DOS becomes
extremely confused trying to figure out how to copy
to/from the IDCDOS device. This would be the same as
creating a file named AUX, PRN, CON etc. since these
are reserved names for logical devices.
REDIRECT will display all characters that come in the selected
COM port on the local (host) screen and echo all characters sent
to the local console back to the COM port, except those that came
in the COM port as shown in the diagram below.
+----------+ +-------------+
| HOST | <------------| COM port |
| SYSTEM | +-------------+
| SCREEN | ^
+----------+ |
|
+---------------------+ |
| HOST SYTEM KEYBOARD |---------+
| OR PROGRAM OR DOS |
+---------------------+
REDIRECT loads into memory at boot time and remains inactive until
activated by a CTTY IDCDOS command. Usually, this command will
appear in a BATCH file, when running a door program or an external
program from within the communications program. REDIRECT, will allow
the SYSOP to monitor the activity of the caller when in the external
program.
REDIRECT is deactivated by the CTTY CON command, again, usually in a
batch file. An example file would be..
ECHO OFF
CLS
CTTY IDCDOS
ZIPVIEW
CTTY CON
This would allow the communications package to execute the ZIPVIEW (tm)
program, also allowing the SYSOP to visually monitor all that
transpires.
ALTERNATE METHOD
----------------
REDIRECT may also be used with the standard DOS redirection symbols
"<" and ">" to redirect input and output for a device or program.
All output from REDIRECT (chars from local keyboard or from serial
port) are sent to COMMAND.COM as input. All output from COMMAND.COM
is sent to REDIRECT as input, where they are in turn sent to the serial
port. Note that if using COMMAND.COM in a shell to DOS operation
from a host system, the remote system should turn on HALF DUPLEX
so that remote characters are echoed locally on the remote end.
ECHO OFF
CLS
CTTY IDCDOS
COMMAND <IDCDOS > IDCDOS
CTTY CON
This method causes all input and output to and from COMMAND.COM
to be run through the REDIRECT driver.
NOTE: the above method will not work with all programs, so some
experimentation is in order, however, one of the two methods
above will definitely work.
LOADING REDIRECT
--------------
REDIRECT is loaded via the CONFIG.SYS file at boot time. The default
COM port for REDIRECT is COM1, but either COM1 or COM2 may be
specified on the command line, e.g.
DEVICE=REDIRECT.SYS 2
The above line will load REDIRECT using COM2. Note that COM1 and COM2
are hard coded to use the following,
COM 1 = 3F8h base port address (std. COM1 location)
COM 2 = 2F8h base port address (std. COM2 location)
Note that for COM3 and COM4 use, there is no problem as long as
the com base ports used are the same as those listed above.
REDIRECT will work with any program that uses standard DOS input
and output functions.
TWIT KEY
--------
The SYSOP of the host system may use the F1 key to immediately
drop the DTR signal (hang up the modem) anytime after the
CTTY IDCDOS command has been executed and up until the time
the CTTY CON command is executed. The result is that if a caller
is shelled to DOS or running a door type program, the SYSOP may
use the F1 key to terminate the call instantly, if the need arises.
ANSI SUPPORT
------------
The following ANSI sequences are supported directly by REDIRECT.
CUU - cursor up - ESC [ Pn A
CUD - cursor down - ESC [ Pn B
CUF - cursor forward - ESC [ Pn C
CUB - cursor backward - ESC [ Pn D
CUP - cursor pos - ESC [ Pl;Pc H
ED - erase display - ESC [ 2 J
EL - erase line - ESC [ K
SGR - set graphics rendition - ESC [ Ps ; ... ; Ps m
SCP - save cursor position - ESC [ s
RCP - restore cursor position - ESC [ u
REDIRECT is a shareware program. If you find yourself using REDIRECT
on a BBS system or for any other reason on a regular basis, you
are expected to register the product. REDIRECT may not be used
in any connections with commercial ventures or in for-profit
situations without registering your copy of the program.
REGISTRATION FEE: $23.50
Site license users please call for a quotation.
DISCLAIMER
----------
This software and documentation are distributed on an as-is
basis and no warranty of any kind is made. IDC assumes no
responsibility as to the suitability for any purpose and
will assume no responsiblity for any damages of any kind.
The user assumes full responsiblity for any loss or damage
arising from the use or misuse of the software and/or
documentation.
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