INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR ARESPACK

GENERAL INFORMATION
ARESPACK is a multi-window terminal program designed to facilitate emergency
communications via packet radio.  A built-in editor allows the operator to
type a message into the editor and send it while simultaneously receiving and
printing messages from the other station.  You do not have to leave the
terminal program in order to compose or send a message.  You are always "on
line" even while entering a message to be sent.

Packet messages can be received and printed automatically, without assistance
from the local operator.  This program allows other packet stations to
remotely turn your printer on and off in order to facilitate the reception of
messages.  When the remote printer command is received by a station using
ARESPACK, the computer will automatically turn the printer on, and send a
"Printer ON LINE" verification message back to the station originating the
message.  Should the PRINTER ON command be received and the printer is not
available, the program will send a message to the sending station, indicating
that the printer is off line and that the message will be lost.

The program generates morse code to inform the operator that certain
functions are being performed.  Whenever a packet connection is made with
this station the letter "C" will be sounded in morse code.  Likewise, when a
disconnect occurs the letter "D" will be sounded.  The letter "P" is sounded
whenever the printer is toggled on or off, either from the keyboard or
remotely by a message originating station.  These sounds can draw an
operators attention to the computer screen.

A built in message form is part of ARESPACK.  This message form is brought
into the editor by pressing F6.   The message form is "filled out" by using
the TAB key to move from field to field.  The date, time, and message number
are automatically filled in as you press the TAB key.  The message form can
be changed or edited to meet your requirements by bringing it into the editor
and editing it.  The form is then saved with the filename FORM.FRM.

COMPUTERS
Arespack will only work with IBM compatible computers.  You will need one
serial port and one printer port.  ARESPACK sends all printer output to
either LPT1 or LPT2. The default printer port is LPT1. The default serial
input is COM1.  This can be changed to COM2.  Selections of COM and LPT ports
are made from the command line at the time the program is started.  See
STARTING ARESPACK.

COMPUTER TO TNC CONNECTIONS
The ARESPACK program uses XON, XOFF software flow control.  A three wire
interface is required between the computer and TNC, RXD, TXD, and ground.

TNC SET UP PARAMETERS
The TNC should be turned on and connected to the computer BEFORE the ARESPACK
program is started.  When ARESPACK is started, the program sends set-up
parameters to the TNC.   ARESPACK is designed to work with "TAPR compatible"
TNCs.  The command syntax is different with non "TAPR compatible" TNCs and
ARESPACK may not work properly other TNCs.

The following commands are sent to the TNC by ARESPACK as the program is
started.

ECHO OFF, AWLEN 8, PAR 0, FLOW OFF, XFLOW ON ,PACLEN 128, TXD 30, CONPERM
OFF, USERS 1, MON ON, MCON OFF, BBSMSG ON, MFILTER $2E.

You can start ARESPACK without sending the start up parameters by typing
NOPARMS at the command line.  Example:  ARESPACK NOPARMS.  

STARTING ARESPACK
You can start the program by typing ARESPACK and pressing the return or enter
key.  The default parameters for ARESPACK are: COM port 1 set at 4800 baud
with printer output sent to LPT1.  

There are several parameters that can be set at the time ARESPACK is started. 
You can set the COM port and baud rate used by the computer.  You can also
have ARESPACK send a carriage return linefeed to your printer.  These
parameters are appended to the command line.  You control whether or not the
TNC is sent initial parameters.  You can also select LPT1 or LPT2.

For example, by typing ARESPACK COM2 9600 CRLF and pressing the return key,
the ARESPACK program will be started by the computer.  It will communicate
with the TNC via COM port 2 and at 9600 baud.  When messages are sent to the
printer a carriage return linefeed sequence will be appended to each message. 
CRLF would be used only if your printer required them.  Normally you would
not start ARESPACK with CRLF.   If your printer prints over the same line of
text without advancing the paper, you would then use CRLF.  Should you desire
you could write a BATch file that would include these command line options. 
These command line options do not need to be entered in any particular order.

Summary of ARESPACK start up commands:
	300, 600, 1200, 4800, 9600 - Type in desired baud (default is 4800)
	COM2 - to select COM port 2 (default is COM1)
	CRLF - to have the program append a carriage return line feed to
		each line sent to the printer.
	LPT2 - to select the LPT2 printer port (default is LPT1)
	NOPARMS - to prevent ARESPACK from sending set up parameters to the TNC.

Please note that ARESPACK does require that the file BRUN41.EXE be on the
disk and in the same directory in order to run.  Five other files should also
be in the same directory.  Four of these are the help files and are called
ARES_F1.HLP, ARES_SF1.HLP, ARES_F3.HLP, and ARES_SF1.HLP.  The fifth file is
the FORM.FRM message form file.

You may exit the ARESPACK program by pressing SHIFT F10 and then pressing the
TAB key at the prompt to select "YES" and then pressing the enter or return
key.

THREE WINDOWS
The program has three display windows; the RECEIVE window, the TRANSMIT
window, and the EDITOR window.  The RECEIVE window is always displayed.  This
window shows all information received from the TNC.  Information is displayed
and updated even as you enter data into the editor or send commands to the
TNC.

The TRANSMIT and EDITOR windows overlay one another, and only one of them
will be displayed at a time.  The F9 function key allows you to toggle
between the two windows.

The information in the EDITOR window is not lost when you toggle to the
TRANSMIT window.  Neither is the information in the TRANSMIT window lost when
you toggle to the EDITOR window.  You can be in the EDITOR window composing
a message and press F9 to toggle to the transmit window to talk, in real
time, and then press F9 to return to the editor and resume composing your
message at the point you last left it.

When the EDITOR window is displayed the RECEIVE window is reduced in size. 
This gives you a larger EDITOR window to work with.

Remember, the RECEIVE window is always displayed with the TRANSMIT and EDITOR
windows being alternately displayed by pressing F9.

RECEIVE WINDOW
The RECEIVE window is always on and displaying information from the TNC.  It
will receive and display incoming data even as you use the EDITOR or TRANSMIT
window.  It will also continue to display incoming data while the help
windows are displayed.  A message can be received and printed from another
station while you are typing out a message to be sent.

The RECEIVE window will continue to display incoming data from the TNC as
long as a "pop-up" window is not overlaying the RECEIVE window.  These "pop-up" windows prompt the user for input or warn him that a disk drive is not
available.  The pop up windows usually require a yes/no answer, file
selection or a simple acknowledgement to continue the program.

Although the RECEIVE window is not displaying the incoming data while a "pop-up" window is on top of the RECEIVE window, the TNC, and the this program
will continue to receive data in their buffers.  Once the "pop-up" window is
gone, the buffered data will be sent to the window. The moral of this story
is, do not leave any "pop-up" window that covers the RECEIVE window to remain
on screen for more than a minute.

Please note that the "pop-up" HELP windows do not cover the Receive window.
They only cover the TRANSMIT and EDITOR window.  Therefore, data will
continue to be shown in the RECEIVE window while these help windows are
displayed.

RECEIVE REVIEW
There is a review or scroll back feature on the receive window.  This is
activated by pressing F4.  You may leave the review mode by pressing either
the F4 or ESC keys. This will return you to normal RECEIVE window operation.

When you enter the review mode, the RECEIVE window will be replaced with a
"RECEIVE REVIEW" window.  This window is surrounded by a flashing border to
remind you that this is not the current RECEIVE window.  You may use the
up/down cursor/arrow keys to scroll back into the RECEIVE window buffer.  The
buffer can contain up to 250 lines of data.  This buffer will contain the
most recent 250 lines of data.

During "RECEIVE REVIEW" all data for the normal RECEIVE window is held in the
buffers of the communication program and the TNC.  When you return to normal
receive, this data will then be sent to the RECEIVE window. 

TRANSMIT WINDOW
When the program is started, there are two windows displayed on the screen,
the Receive window and the TRANSMIT window.  The EDITOR window is behind the
TRANSMIT window.  The TRANSMIT and EDITOR window will exchange places
whenever the F9 key is pressed.

When the TRANSMIT window is displayed all keyboard entries will be sent to
the TNC.  From this window you can control the TNC in the command mode or you
can talk to other stations in the converse mode.  The terminal program is
like any other split screen program for the TNC.

Just a reminder: You must send a Control C to enter the command mode.  You
can return to the converse mode by sending the CONV command or using the
alias for this command which is the letter  k .  The CONV or  k  commands are
immediate. 

Commands are issued in the TRANSMIT window and replies to those commands
appear in the receive window.  If you are not familiar with a split screen
program this may be a bit confusing at first.  You will get use to it after
a short while.  A major benefit of a split screen program is that you can
continue to receive data even while you are typing in a reply to the last
packet you received.  

EDITOR WINDOW
The EDITOR window covers the TRANSMIT window.  Therefore, only one of these
two windows may be displayed at a time.  The F9 key toggles between these two
windows.  You can also switch to the EDITOR window by pressing the F8
function key.  The F8 key causes a "pop-up" menu for all editor functions to
appear.  All commands to the editor are given via this menu.

When you first enter the editor you can immediately start typing your message
or you can recall a message form from the disk.  Message forms can be created
in the editor and stored as a message form.  More on this later.  The editor
will word-wrap so there is no need to press the enter or return key when you
reach the end of a line.  To start a new paragraph you would press the enter
or return key.  The editor has one oddity in that it shows a paragraph symbol
on the screen when you press the enter or return key.  The paragraph symbol
will appear on screen for each carriage return.  This symbol will NOT be
transmitted and/or show up on the screen of the receiving station or on the
printed message.

EDITOR MENU
All operations in editor are controlled by the editor menu.  The editor menu
"pops-up" over the editor window when you press F8.  The selected menu item
is highlighted.  You can select a menu item by using the up/down arrow keys
or by pressing a key the corresponds the first letter in the menu item.  You
can leave the editor menu at any time without making a selection by pressing
the ESC key.

"SEND VIA PACKET" is the first menu item.  It is the default selection when
menu first appears on the screen.  This menu item does exactly what it says. 
It will send the current contents of the editor to the TNC.  If you are
currently connected to another station, then that station will receive the
contents of you editor.  To choose this selection press the return or enter
key and the message will be sent.  The contents of the editor remain and
could be sent again to the same or another station.

If you are not currently connected to another station then press F9 to toggle
to the TRANSMIT window and issue a connect command to the desired station. 
You could then press F8, while still in the TRANSMIT window, to go directly
to the EDITOR window and display the editor menu.  Since "SEND VIA PACKET" is
the default selection, just press the return or enter key to start sending
the information in the editor.

"PRINT FILE"  This menu selection allows you to send the current contents of
the editor to the printer.  One note of caution.  The printer can receive
input from either the editor or the Receive window.  The F2 key toggles the
printer on/off from the receive window.  This function has priority over the
editor print function.  If the F2 printer function is on, the editor will not
send information to the printer until the F2 print function is toggled off. 

"READ FILE"  This function allows you to read a file from the disk into the
editor.  When you select this function you will be presented with a list of
files on the current directory.  Select a file with the use of the cursor
keys or type the first letter of the file name to jump to the file.  Press
the return or enter key to import the file into the editor.  

PLEASE NOTE! The current contents of the editor will be lost (written over)
by the incoming file.

Should you need to select a file from other than the current directory, press
ESC and the use the Shift F4 function key to change the current directory.

"WRITE FILE"  You can write (save) to disk the current contents of the
editor.  When you select this menu item by pressing the return or enter key
you will be shown a path specification.  If the file has already been named
the file name will be also be shown along with the path.  You can edit both
the path and file name if desired.  Once you have done this press the return
or enter key to write or save the file to disk.

This function does not affect the contents of the editor.  After a "write"
function ,the contents of the editor remain unchanged and are available for
further editing.

If you are saving a FORM.FRM file that was filled out, then a message number
will be assigned to the file and it will become part of the file name.  If
you were saving your second message, then the file name would be filled in
with FORM.002.  You could press return to save the file with the FORM.002
name or you could type over that name and then  press return.

"CLEAR EDITOR" Clear editor simply clears the current contents of the editor,
providing you with a "clean sheet of paper".   

REMOTE CONTROL COMMANDS
The ARESPACK program can respond to seven different remote control commands
issued by any other packet radio station.  These commands bring great power
to emergency communications.

The commands must be given at the beginning of a new line (after a carriage
return).  The commands must be preceded by a period.  For example, the remote
command to turn a printer on is .pon .  The commands may be sent in either
upper or lower case.  The remote commands are as follows:

   .pon  turns the remote station's printer on
   .poff turns the remote station's printer off
   .ptm  Stamps the incoming message with date and time
   .pff  send a form feed to the printer
   .aon  sounds an alert signal to get the operators attention
   .link causes the remote station to send "the quick brown fox..." 
   .ver  causes the remote station to send the release version of ARESPACK
   .gmsgXXX automatically gets a message from the station that you are 
            connected to.  XXX =  message number.  Example: gmsg004 will get
            the file labeled FORM.004.  Notice that there are no spaces 
            between the "g" and the first "x" and that zeros are used 
            as fills.    

When the .pon command is received, a check will be made to see if a printer
is connected to the computer, and that the printer is "on line" and not
indicating a fault condition.  If the printer is available the program will
then toggle the printer "on", sound the letter "P" in morse code on the
computer. It will also send a message back to the remote controlling station
stating that the printer is "ON LINE" along with the date and time.

If the printer is not available then the program will respond by sending a
message back to the remote controlling station stating that the printer is
"NOT AVAILABLE -- MESSAGE WILL BE LOST" along with the date and time.

Printers should always be left "on line" so as to be ready to receive a
message.  Since the .pff command should be part of the FORM.FRM the printer
will automaically do form feed at the end of the message.  Just tear off the
received message and go back to your business.

The .pff command is usually sent at the end of a message just prior to
sending the  .poff command.  This will cause the printer to perform a form
feed and eject the printed message.  The operator need only tear off the
message and deliver it.

The .poff command will turn the printer off and is usually sent at the end of
a message.

The .ptm command will cause ARESPACK to date and time stamp the message as it
is received.  The date and time are read from the computer.  The message
should have two time stamps on it.  One placed on it at the time it was
filled out and the second placed on it as it is received.

The ability to remotely turn the printer on and off and receive verification
means that an operator does not have to be in attendance 100% of the time to
receive messages. Remember that ARESPACK will reply to the sending station
with two messages.  The first is "PRINTER ON" and when the message is
received, "PRINTER OFF".  If the sending station gets both of these replies
then they know that all of the message was printed out.  The should not have
to call the receiving station for verification.

The .aon command causes the computer to make a whelping sound for several
seconds.  The intent of this feature is to get the operator's attention
should he be performing duties away from the computer.  This sound should
summon him to the keyboard.

The .link command is a designed to be a test of the complete link or system. 
This command will cause the receiving station to send the packet message "The
quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dogs back".  This is fun to do in the
wee hours of the night when there is no traffic and you are bored stiff.  It
is also an excellent test of the entire system: computer to TNC to radio to
antenna via the ether to the other antenna to the radio to the TNC to the
computer.

The .ver command will cause the program to send the version of the ARESPACK
software being used.  This command will only work with version 2.0 or later
releases.

The .pon, .ptm, .pff, and .poff commands are usually placed in the message
form being filled out by the sending station.  It is best to make them part
of your message form.  A sample message form which incorporates these
commands is shown later in this document.  

MESSAGE FORMS
ARESPACK can import a message form as a file into the editor.  This form can
then filled out using the TAB key to move from field to field. Custom message
forms may also be created in the editor and then saved to the disk.  The
standard message form may be customized for a particular event.  You could
add the line "This is a test message only" to all simulated messages.

Message forms, like any other file, can be brought into the editor by
pressing the F8 (editor menu) key, selecting "Read File" and pressing return
to view the list of available files.  You would then select the FORM.FRM file
and press return to bring it into the editor.  Normally you would just press
F6 to automatically import the FORM.FRM file into the editor.

As the message form is brought into the editor it is automatically assigned
a message number.  A sample message form is included on the distribution
disk.  The file name of the message form is "FORM.FRM".   All files saved to
disk with the three letter extension of ".FRM" will be treated as a form. 
When any form is recalled into the editor the three letter extension of the
file name is replaced with a sequential message number.  Either before or
after a file is sent it must be saved to disk using the "WRITE" command in
the editor menu (F8).  As the program imports a message form into the editor
it scans the disk for the highest numbered message form on the disk and then
increments that number by one and uses that number on current message. 

A special type of message form is part of the ARESPACK program.   This form
is named FORM.FRM.  When you press the F6 key the program will search the
disk for a file with the name of "FORM.FRM".  If it finds this form it will
automatically activate the editor and import this form into the editor and
number the form.  After it is imported you then fill it out in the same
manner as any other form using the TAB function to TAB from field to field.

Upon completion of filling the message form, press the F10 key to
automatically save the file to disk and to send it via packet.  The F6 and
F10 keys allow you to be very efficient in message sending.

By using the F6 key along with a special file named "FORM.FRM" you can save
many steps in filling out a form.  You can still retrieve other files with
and without the ".FRM" extension by using the F8 key to bring up the editor
menu and selecting READ A FILE and then selecting the desired file name and
so on.  You can see the efficiency of the F6 key when using the same form
over and over again.

In the message form the program searches for the next occurrence of a colon
":" each time the TAB key is pressed.  Any number of colons may be used in
message form.  If the colon is followed immediately by a special character
then the date, time, or message number will automatically be inserted as you
press the TAB key. 




Below is a brief example of a message form.  The comments in parentheses
explain the functions of the commands and are not part of the form.

       .pon (Will command the receiving computer to send data to its printer)
       .ptm  (A date and time stamp will be printed here as it is received) 
       *****************************************************
        U T A H   C O U N T Y   A R E S    M S G    F O R M
       -----------------------------------------------------

       DATE:@                       MESSAGE NUMBER:#
      
       TIME:%   (Remember that the DATE, TIME, and MESSAGE)
                (fields will be filled in automatically by)
       TO:      (the program as you TAB to the fields.    )
                (The @ symbol will insert the date, the # )
       FROM:    (will cause the next available msg number )
                (to be inserted.  The % symbol is for the )
       SUBJECT: (time and the & will cause a CR and indent)

       MESSAGE TEXT:&


       SIGNATURE:

       -----------------------------------------------------
       End of message
       ***************************************************** 
       .pff  (Will send a form feed to the printer)
       .poff (Will cause the computer to stop sending to the printer)
       


HOW TO FILL OUT A MESSAGE FORM
Press F6 to import the message form.  When the above message form is brought
into the editor it will appear with only the top portion of the form visible. 
The editor window can display only fourteen lines of text at a time.  The
cursor will be positioned at the top left corner of the form.  

The form is "filled out" by repeatedly pressing the TAB key.  The TAB key
moves you from field to field.  You will need to resist the urge press the
ENTER key to move from field to field.

Pressing the TAB key will sequentially position you at the DATE, TIME, and
MESSAGE fields. Each press will automatically fill the data in these fields
as you TAB to them.  

Press the TAB key.  This will position the cursor at the first occurrence of
a colon which is just after the word "DATE".  Because the colon is
immediately followed by the symbol "@", the date as set in the computer will
be inserted at this location. Another press of the TAB key will cause the
time to be filled in at the % symbol.  Pressing the TAB key again will cause
the message number to inserted in the form at the location marked by the
symbol "#".

If you accidentally press the ENTER or RETURN key when you meant to press the
TAB key, don't worry, just press the BACKSPACE key to recover and then press
the TAB key.

Press TAB again and the cursor will be positioned just after the colon beside
the word "TO".  Now type in the name of the person or agency that is to
receive the message.  Press the TAB key again and type in the name of the
person or agency originating the message.  Press the TAB key and type in the
subject.  

Now the next press of the TAB will cause something a little different to
occur.  The "&" symbol following the colon after the words "MESSAGE TEXT"
will cause the cursor to placed a line below the words "MESSAGE TEXT" and
will be indented three spaces.  This sets apart the actual text of the
message making it easier to identify.  

Because the editor is in the insert mode all you need to do now to is type in
the message.  The "SIGNATURE" line of the message form will be "pushed down"
as you type, expanding to meet the size requirements of the message. 
Remember that the editor will word-wrap as you reach the end of the line. 
Please notice that you should be "pushing" an editor paragraph character in
front of your typing. This will help you to see the current location of the
cursor.  The cursor is shared with the receive window and can disappear for
a moment or two.

After completing the message text press the TAB key once again to go to the
"SIGNATURE" line.  Enter the signature and you have completed filling out the
form.

HOW TO SEND A MESSAGE TO ANOTHER STATION
After you have filled out a message form you will want to send that message
to another station.  This process is very simple.  First you must establish
a connect with the other station. If you are not already connected to another
station, you could press F9 to get into the TRANSMITT window and issue a
connect.  Once this connect is established just push the F10 function key.  

Your message will automatically be saved to disk and then it will be sent to
the other station. As you send the message you need to watch for the
automatic reply of the receiving station.  You should receive two replies
from the receiving station.  

The first reply should state that the PRINTER IS ON LINE along with a date
and time stamp.  Should you instead, receive a reply that states PRINTER OFF
LINE MESSAGE WILL BE LOST, you will know that you will need to contact the
other station and have them fix their printer before you re-send the message.

The second reply should state PRINTER NOW OFF along with date and time stamp. 
If you have received both a PRINTER ON LINE and a PRINTER OFF LINE reply you
will know that the message has be successfully received and printed.



SUMMARY OF SENDING A MESSAGE
Get and fill out form
1) Press F6 to bring message form into editor
2) Press TAB key to fill in DATE, TIME, and MSG number
3) Press TAB key and fill in TO, FROM, SUBJECT fields
4) Press TAB key and type out message text
5) Press TAB key and fill in signature and operator fields

Save and Send form
6) Press F10 to save to disk and send message to connected station
7) Watch for PRINTER ON LINE followed by PRINTER OFF LINE replies.

8)Press F6 to get a new form and start over again



**** SUMMARY OF SUMMARY **** 
Press F6, TAB to fill in form, Press F10 to save and send.


REMOTE COMMANDS IN MESSAGE FORMS
It is highly recommended that you place remote control command codes in the
message form.  Specifically the, printer on, printer off, form feed and
date/time stamp commands.  At the very top of the form you should place two
commands on two diffent lines: the ".pon" command followed by the ".ptm"
command.  This is so the computer will date and time stamp the incoming
message. These commands could then be followed by a row of stars to indicate
the message proper.

At the very bottom of the form below the last row of stars you could place
the ".pff" (Printer Form Feed) command followed by the ".poff" (Printer OFF)
command.  Remember, these commands must be placed at the beginning of a new
line.  Also keep in mind that anything sent to the other station following a
".poff" command will not be printed.  This should be the last command in the
form. 

As you send the message you should monitor your receive window for the
acknowledgement of the printer commands from the receiving station.  If you
receive both acknowledgements then you know that everything in between the
two commands was received.

HELP WINDOWS
The text for the help windows are stored outside of the ARESPACK program. 
When you press one of the help keys the program will read the help file from
the disk and display it in the help window.  There will be a slight delay as
this occurs.

The help files on the disk are stored in generic ASCII text format.  You can
write your own help files.  You can even use the editor built into ARESPACK
to write these files.  You will need to remove or rename the existing help
files so that you can name your new help files with the appropriate file
name.

The files are read into the help window one line at a time.  A line ends at
a carriage return.  The help window will display a maximum of 78 characters
on a line.  The help window files must be on the same disk directory as the
ARESPACK program. 

MACROS
The ARESPACK program can perform up to ten MACROS.  These macros can be used
to import text into the TRANSMIT or EDITOR windows. Macros can be assigned to
ALT function keys 1 to 10.  The macro is executed by holding the ALT key and
pressing one of the ten function keys. 
 
These macros can be written in the editor and then saved as a file using the
"WRITE" command in the editor menu.  The macro is written as a file with the
name "ALT.X" were X is the number of the function key that invokes the macro. 
For example, when you press the ALT F10 key the program will look for a file
with the name of "ALT.10".  

The file will be imported into either the TRANSMIT or EDITOR window depending
upon which window is currently being displayed on the screen.  

Macros can be used for "Connect strings", "Agency addresses", "signatures",
or any repetitive phrase.

OTHER FUNCTION KEYS
F1- General Help window.  Everything you ever wanted know about ARESPACK can
be found in this window (well almost).  This window provides reminders of key
ideas and operating instructions.  Read this help window at least once to
become familiar with its contents.  The RECEIVE window will continue to be
updated while this window is being displayed so take all the time you need.

SHIFT F1- TNC Help window.  A summary TNC commands (TAPR nomenclature) is
contained in this window.  Commands are listed alphabetically.  The RECEIVE
window will continue to be updated while this window is being displayed.

F2- Printer ON/OFF toggle.  This key will alternately turn the printer on and
off to print the data that is being set to the screen.  The bottom line of
the screen has a printer status indicator.  When it indicates that the
printer is ON then all data sent to the screen will also be sent to the
printer.  The letter "P" is sounded in morse code every time this function is
toggled.  The F2 key and the remote control commands ".pon" and ".poff"
perform the same function.

SHIFT F2 - This will turn off the morse code announcements of printer on/off,
connects and disconnects.
  
F3- Forest service help window.  This window provides on-line quick reference
listing of Forest service radio frequencies (Specific to the Unita forest.
This file is left as an example.)

SHIFT F3- ARES DATABASE help window.  This is an on-line reference for the
packet radio database program "ARESDATA".   A database program that
facilitates tracking disaster victims.

F4- Review receive.  Allows the operator to scroll back through the receive
buffer.

SHIFT  F4- Change directory.  For simplicty and safety of the messages,
ARESPACK works within only one directory at a time.  To change a directory
press F4 and then type in the new directory.

F5- Not in current use.

SHIFT  F5- Terminal mode on/off.  Two computers may be connected to one TNC
via special RS-232C combining circuit.  Two computers allow message entry by
two operators.  This would be advantageous in an EOC environment.  Both
computers will try to respond to remote commands i.e. .pon and .poff etc. 
The computer that is being used as the second terminal should be placed in
the TERMINAL mode by pressing Shift F5.  That computer will not respond to
any remote commands.   

When placed in the TERMINAL mode, the word TERMINAL will appear in the upper
right hand corner of the screen.   The word "term" will be sounded in morse
code when Shift F5 is pressed.  To get out of TERMINAL mode just press Shift
F5 again.

The main computer, the one connected to the printer should not be placed in
the TERMINAL mode.

F6- GET FORM.  This key used in conjunction with the F10 key, (Save and Send)
greatly facilitate the sending of traffic via packet radio.  When you press
F6 several things will happen.  If you are not already in the Editor window
you will be switched to the Editor.  The program will then look for a file on
the disk with the title of FORM.FRM and bring it into the editor window.  It
will automatically name this new file FORM.001 or FORM.002 or FORM.003 etc. 
It will increment the extension of the file name by one(1) each time you
bring in a new form.

The FORM.FRM file is a special case of the files using the .FRM extension. 
It uses the same TAB function to TAB to the next field and automatic date and
time stamping that is used in all .FRM files.  However, it is the only .FRM
file that is retrieved by the F6 key.  All other .FRM files must be brought
in via the F8 editor menu and READ FILE menu selection.

If you are using a standard file format for you traffic you should generate
a form file and name it FORM.FRM. Then, just by pressing the F6 key the file
will be imported into the editor, stamped, and ready to be filled out.  Upon
completion of filling out the form, press the F10 key to automatically save
the message to disk and to send it via packet.  Then press F6 to bring up a
new form to fill out.

SHIFT F6- Delete file.  This function was deliberately assigned to a shift
key.  This allows you to delete a file in the current directory.   A list of
files will be displayed.  Highlight the filename of the file you wish to
delete and press return or enter.  You may press the ESC key to quit this
function at any time.

F7- Capture to a file.  When you press this key, a file with the name of
"TEMPCAP" will be opened on the current disk drive.  As data is written to
the screen it will also be written to this file on the disk.  You may pause
the capture process at any time by pressing F7 once again.  To resume the
capture process press F7 again.  The bottom line on the screen indicates the
status of the capture function.  To turn capture off press Shift F7.

SHIFT F7- Capture off.  When you turn the capture function off you will be
prompted with the question- Do you wish to Save the capture file?  If you
select yes you will then be prompted for a file name to which the capture
information will be saved.  If you select "NO" then the temporary file will
be erased from the disk.  If you select yes, the "TEMPCAP" file will be
closed and renamed.  The advantage to this approach is that you can quickly
activate the capture feature with one keystroke and worry about naming it
later.

F8- EDITOR "Pop-Up" menu.  This key will display the EDITOR window and cause
a "Pop-Up" menu to appear.  This menu contains all the editor functions.  You
can read a file into the editor or write a file from the editor.  You can
send the contents of the editor via packet at the press of keystroke.

F9- TRANSMIT/EDITOR window toggle.  This key allows you to alternately
display the TRANSMIT window or the EDITOR window.  While in the transmit
window all keyboard entries are sent to the TNC.  While in the editor window
all keyboard entries are sent to the editor and NOT to the TNC.  

SHIFT F9- REPEATER mode toggle. This key will toggle you in and out of the
repeater mode.  Use the repeater mode when you are packeting through a voice
repeater.  The AXD parameter is set to 6(0.6 seconds) and the AXH is set to
15 (1.5 seconds).  AXD delays the sending of the packet until the repeater
has had time to key-up.   AXH is the hang time of the repeater.  It allows
packets to be sent without the AXD delay while the repeater is still keyed
up.

F10- SEND AND SAVE.  After you have generated a message you can press F10 to
save the message to the disk and to send it via packet.  Pressing the F10 key
performs both of these operations sequentially.  First it saves the message
to the disk.  If the message has not already been given a file name (such as
FORM.001)it will prompt you for a file name.  After saving the message to the
disk it will then send the message via packet.

The F10 key works in concert with the F6 key.  Press the F6 key to bring a
form into the editor.  Then fill out the form and press F10.  These two
functions make it very easy for a non-experienced user to send traffic with
ARESPACK.  Of course the system and the link must be established by an
experienced packet operator.

SHIFT F10- Quit the program.  This is how you quit the terminal program.  A
window will appear asking if you wish to quit the program.  Press the TAB key
to select "YES" followed by the return or enter key.  If you do not wish to
quit then just press the return or enter key to return to the program.

SHARING ARESPACK WITH OTHERS
"ARESPACK" was written for the express purpose of facilitating emergency
radio communications via packet radio by Utah County Amateur Radio Service. 
To that end, the help files contained in this program are specific to Utah
County ARES.  They are left as an example.  You will want to write your own
help files.

Utah County A.R.E.S wishes to share this program with all who participate in
Amateur Radio Emergency Service.   Permission is granted for NON-PROFIT, NON-COMMERCIAL use of this program and its documentation. Please feel free to
copy this program and share it with a fellow ARES member.


WHEN YOU COPY THIS PROGRAM MAKE SURE THAT YOU COPY THE FOLLOWING FILES:

ARESPACK.EXE - ARESPACK program
ARESPACK.DOC - Instruction manual for ARESPACK
    USER.DOC - Short form instructions for user designed to be printed from
               the editor in ARESPACK
    FORM.FRM - Sample message form
  BRUN41.EXE - Run time library for ARESPACK  
 ARES_F1.HLP - Text file for F1 help screen
 ARES_F3.HLP - Text file for F3 help screen
ARES_SF1.HLP - Text file for Shift F1 help screen
ARES_SF3.HLP - Text file for Shift F3 help screen



Comments are both welcomed and invited about this program.  Comments may be
sent to 

Larry Driskill  KE7AU
1050 West 105 North
Orem, Utah  84057



