TRS-80® Micro Color Compac

TRS-80® MC-10 Micro Color Compac Operation Manual
© 1983 Tandy Corporation
All Rights Reserved

Reproduction or use, without express written permission from Tandy Corporation, of any portion of this manual is prohibited. While reasonable efforts have been taken in the preparation of this manual to assure its accuracy, Tandy Corporation assumes no liability resulting from any errors or omissions in this manual, or from the use of the information.

MC-10 Micro Color Compac: Copyright 1983 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.

 

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................. 1

1/ Program Overview .......................................................................................................................................................... 3

2/ Setting Up the System .................................................................................................................................................. 3

Connecting the MC-10 to a Modem .......................................................................................................................... 3

Connecting the MC-10 to a Cassette Recorder................................................................................................. 4

Powering Up the System .................................................................................................................................................. 5

3/ Using the Micro Color Compac .............................................................................................................................. 5

Running the Program .......................................................................................................................................................... 6

Selecting the Communications Menu Options ................................................................................................... 6

Using the Micro Color Compac Program .............................................................................................................. 8

4/ Technical Information For Special Applications............................................................................................ 8

Appendix A/ Sample Log-on Session ..................................................................................................................... 9

Introduction

Congratulations for selecting the TRS-80® Micro Color Compac for use with your MC-10 Computer (26-3011). This easy-to-use program enables you to communicate efficiently with information services such as CompuServe or Dow Jones.

The Micro Color Compac provides the following features:

·                     Selectable baud rate (110, 300, or 1200)

·                     Half or Full Duplex Mode

·                     7 or 8 Bit Word Lengths

·                     Upper- and Lowercase Display or Uppercase Only

·                     Optional Automatic Line Feed

1/ Program Overview

 

Micro Color Compac is a machine-language program on cassette tape which allows your MC-10 to communicate by telephone with an information service (i.e., host computer) such as CompuServe or Dow Jones. This means that, in addition to the MC-10 itself and the cassette tape, you'll also need a modem (such as the TRS-80 Modem I or Il) and a telephone close at hand.

When you load and execute the program, you have the option of setting the communications protocol (baud rate, word length, etc.).

Remember that you can set the protocol to whatever settings are required. The only limiting factor is that the settings you choose must match those of the computer system you're communicating with. For instance, if you set the baud rate to 1200 and the information service is sending information at 300 baud, communication cannot occur.

2/ Setting-Up the System

 

To use the Micro Color Compac, you'll need the following equipment:

·                     TRS-80 MC-10.

·                     Television.

·                     Cassette Recorder.

·                     Modem.

·                     Telephone.

Before making any connections, be sure all power to the Computer and accessories is turned OFF!

Connecting the MC-10 to a Modem

To connect the MC-10 to a modem or acoustic coupler, you'll need a serial interface cable appropriate for operation with the modem or acoustic coupler you own.

1.                   Connect the modem to the MC-10 by inserting one end of the Color Computer Serial Interface Cable into the Serial I/O Connector on the Computer.

2.                   Connect the other end of the cable into the RS-232/CASS Connector on the Modem. See Figure 1.

• If you're using a Modem I, set the NORMal/CASSette Switch to NORM.

Figure 1

If you're using a Modem II, set the FORCE DTR Switch to ON. Set the Modem II's switches to manual mode. Refer to the operation manual for appropriate instructions.

3.                   Connect the modem to the telephone wall jack as described in your modem's operation manual.

4.                   Connect the modem to a power source as described in the modem's operation manual. If you need to use an extension cord or power strip, we recommend a Radio Shack Line Filter. Do not turn the power on yet!

Connecting the MC-10 to a Cassette Recorder

To connect the MC-10 to a cassette recorder, you'll need the Cassette interface Cable (26-1207). See your MC-10 and cassette recorder operation manual for instructions.

Be sure to set the volume control on the cassette recorder to a mid-range setting such as 5.

Figure 2

The MC-10 will not automatically turn the cassette recorder on and off. Do not press PLAY until you have typed in the commands to load the program.

Figure 3

Powering Up the System

 

Once the modem and cassette recorder are connected to the MC-10, follow the power-up sequence described in your MC-10 Operation Manual.

1.                   Turn all accessories ON.

2.                   Turn the television's power ON.

3.                   Turn the MC-10's power ON.

3/ Using the Micro Color Compac

Follow this procedure to load the Micro Color Compac program into the MC-10:

1.    Insert the Micro Color Compac tape (supplied with this package) into the cassette recorder. The tape should be completely rewound.

2.    When the OK prompt is displayed on the TV Screen, type:
CLOADM

3.    Press PLAY on the recorder until it is locked in position.

4.    The MC-10 will search for and load the program. While it is "searching" for the program, the letter S will appear in the upper-left corner of the TV Screen.

5.    When the program has been found, the letter F and the filename will appear at the top of the Screen.

6.    If you do not specify a filename, the first program encountered will be loaded into the Computer.

7.    When the program has been loaded, OK will reappear on the Screen.

8.    Press STOP on the recorder to stop the tape.

9.    Unplug the cassette recorder from the back of the MC-10.

Running the Program .. .

To run the program, type: EXEC [ENTER].

First Display

Selecting the Communications Menu Options

When the program has been "executed," the following will appear on the Screen:

To select the communications parameter settings you need, press the key that matches the letter of the appropriate item. For example, press [B] to change the baud rate. The baud rate will then change from 300 to 1200. Press [B] again and 1200 will change to 110. Press [B] once more and 300 will reappear.

Important Note! With Modem I or II, the baud rate must be set at 300.

When [D] is pressed, the Duplex setting moves from FULL to HALF. Pressing [D] again changes the setting back to FULL.

Each item on the menu rotates through the options available for that item. The following items further define the Micro Color Compac features.

B

Baud Rate

The baud rate is the speed at which communications occurs. 300 baud is faster than 110 and 1200 is faster than 300. (Modems I and II use 300 baud.)

D

Duplex (Half or Full)

The selection of Full duplex allows simultaneous reception and transmission of data. If your TV display shows two characters for every character you type when communicating with another computer, you are using Half duplex. Set the protocol to Full duplex for normal characters.

W

Word Length (7 or 8 Bits)

A 7 or 8 bit word length can be selected as needed.

L

Auto Line Feed (On or Off)

The Auto Line Feed determines whether the carriage return functions as a carriage return/line feed (the "Automatic Carriage Return") or carriage return only.

U

Upper/Lowercase or Uppercase Only

This option allows you to select how the information will be displayed on your screen.

Remember the settings must match those of the information service you're communicating with.

Using the Micro Color Compac Program

Once the menu is set to the appropriate communications protocol, press BREAK ENTER

The menu disappears and the program will prompt you with this message: PLACE CALL AND "ENTER

1.                   Dial the phone number of the information service you wish to communicate with.

2.                   When the host system answers, you'll hear a high-pitched sound. Set the modem's switch to ORG (for "originate").

3.                   Press [ENTER] on the MC-10 keyboard.

The information service will then be in control. You will be prompted to begin the log-on sequence so you can go "on-line" with the service.

What happens next will depend upon the information service you're communicating with. See your information service user's guide for more specific details.

4/ Technical Information for Special Applications

 

Micro Color Compac features a communications menu which provides selectable baud rates (110, 300, and 1200), full or half duplex, 7 or 8 bit word lengths, optional auto line feed, and upper/lower case or upper case only mode.

Control codes can be generated by pressing the Control Key with another key from A-Z.

EXAMPLE "CONTROL"+"C"=CONTROL C (HEX 03)

Characters which do not appear on the keyboard can be generated by keying "BREAK" plus another key. The special characters are:

[           "BREAK"+"("

]           "BREAK"+")"

↑          "BREAK"+"W"

←         "BREAK"+"A"

{           "BREAK"+"<"

}           "BREAK"+">"

/           "BREAK"+"/"

|           "BREAK"+"1"

~          "BREAK"+"2"

By keying in "BREAK"+"=" while in the Communications Mode, you enter the Buffer Examine Mode where you can examine any data scrolled off the screen. To exit this mode, use the system Reset at the back of the computer.

Data in the buffer area is always the most recent data. Once the buffer is full, new data will be written over data previously stored in the buffer. The buffer area consists of two pages in a 4K MC-10 and 34 pages in a 20K MC-10. To scan the buffer area, key in "W" or "Z."

Note: If a Form Feed is received, the Screen is cleared and the screen data is not scrolled off into the buffer area.

Micro Color Compac sends no parity and, if received, parity is ignored. The program responds to the following hex control codes:

08

Backspace

09

Horizontal TAB moves cursor to next 8 byte field

0A

Line feed to move cursor to next line

0C

Form feed to clear the screen and home cursor

0D

Carriage return moves cursor to beginning of line

1B 41

Moves cursor up one line

1B 42

Moves cursor down one line

1B 43

Moves cursor right one space

1B 44

Moves cursor left one space

1B 47 34

Switch to Semi-Graphics Mode

1B 47 XX

Switch to alpha mode (XX = DO NOT CARE)

1B 48

Moves cursor to home position (top left corner)

1B 4A

Clear to end of page from current cursor

1B 4B

Clear to end of line from current cursor

1B 59 xx yy

Position cursor to new location (*Note)

1B 60 xx

Change cursor symbol to xx

1B 6A

Clear screen and home cursor

*Note: XX-20H is new line

YY-20H is new position in line

EXAMPLE: 1B 59 24 27 moves the cursor to line 4, position 7

Pressing the RESET button will force the program back to the menu area into default mode.

Appendix A/ Sample Log-On Session

 

This section will take you step-by-step through a sample log-on session. Modem I will be used to log-on to CompuServe. See your CompuServe Information Service User's Guide for details. Make sure the modem and cassette recorder are connected to the MC-10.

1.       Turn all accessories ON.

2.       Turn the Television's power ON.

3.       Turn the MC-10's power ON.

  1. Insert the Micro Color Compac program tape (supplied with this package) into the cassette recorder. Be sure the tape is completely rewound.
  2. When the OK prompt is displayed on the TV screen, type:

CLOADM [ENTER]

6.       Press PLAY on the recorder until it is locked in position.

The MC-10 will search for and load the program. While it is "searching" for the program, the letter S will appear in the upper-left corner of the TV Screen.

When the program has been found, the letter F and the filename will appear at the top of the Screen.

If you did not specify the filename, the first program encountered was loaded into the Computer.

  1. When the program has been loaded, the message OK will reappear on the Screen.
  2. Press STOP on the recorder to stop the tape and unplug the cassette recorder from MC-10.
  3. Then to run the program, type:
    EXEC [ENTER]

When the program has been "executed," the Screen will display:

 

These are the communications parameters you will need to communicate with CompuServe.

  1. Press [BREAK] [ENTER]. The menu disappears from the screen and this message appears:

PLACE CALL AND "ENTER"

11.    Dial CompuServe's phone number.

  1. When CompuServe answers, you'll hear a high-pitched sound. Set the modem's switch to ORG (for "originate"). Hang up the phone.

13.    Press ENTER.

Note: Some host computers may require a control code at this time, or a terminal identifier or both.

This message will be displayed.

USER ID

14.    Type in your User ID number. For example:

USER ID: 50005,G42 [ENTER]

PASSWORD: will then appear on the Computer display.

  1. Type in your password. For example: AGENT007 [ENTER]. Notice that the password was not displayed.

Once the correct password has been entered, you will be on-line with CompuServe.

  1. When you are ready to disconnect, type: BYE ENTER

The telephone connection is broken.