USE OF EXTERNAL B PLUS PROTOCOL MODULES FROM WITHIN THE BOYAN COMM PROGRAM The new B Plus Protocol enhancement is an exciting advance in the CompuServe B Protocol. With this new protocol, raw transfer speeds near ideal are achieved via windowed block transfer and expanded block transfer size. Additionally, there is now the ability to resume aborted or interrupted downloads. One of our fine programmer/members of the IBMNET has met the challenge of the new protocol and developed an external module based on CompuServe specifications so that members can take advantage of the greater file transfer speed without special comm programs specifically designed for the B Plus Protocol. This external module can be used from within any comm program that can shell out to DOS without dropping comm carrier. This new B Plus module is OZBEXT.ARC by Steve Sneed [71520,77] and is available in Library 2 of our IBM New Users Forum (GO IBMNEW) and Library 10 of our IBM Communications Forum (GO IBMCOM). The use of this module is very simple. Confusion sets in not with the module itself, but in calling it from within various comm programs. This file then will attempt to describe the procedure for using OZBEXT within Boyan. The version used in this description is Boyan v D4. For the purpose of this discussion, we will assume using 1200 baud, COM1, Full Duplex, and 7E1 comm params. The trick in making efficient use of this external protocol module is to call the module BEFORE telling CompuServe that you wish to download a file. As an example, we will "download" ARC-E.COM from Library 2 of our IBM New Users Forum. 1. After entering Library 2 of IBMNEW, at the LIB 2 ! prompt issue the command: BRO ARC-E.COM. The file header and description of ARC-E.COM should now appear on your screen along with your options to download, continue, or return to the top menu. 2. At this point, we will NOW call OZBEXT *before* telling CompuServe that we wish to download the file: 3. There are two ways to utilize an external module in Boyan. The external module can be utilized via a simple shell to DOS (Alt-J) or via an installed external protocol (PgDn) in the Protocol menu. A. Via a shell to DOS: i. Hit Alt-J to shell to DOS and the DOS prompt should appear. ii. Type: OZBEXT Note: OZBEXT defaults to COM1 and the existing comm parameters such as baud and parity. If you are using COM2, the syntax would be: OZBEXT /C2. See the OZBEXT docs for details of other switchable parameters. B. Via an Installed External Protocol: i. You must have previously installed OZBEXT as an external protocol before logging onto CompuServe. This is done as follows: a. Hit Alt-C to get into the Boyan Configuration menu. b. Select Item M to get into the external protocol menu. c. Select a blank/available position to add the external OZBEXT module. d. The first line is Protocol Name. I used CIS B Plus but you may call it anything you wish. e. The next line is Menu Letter. Choose a letter to designate CIS B Plus Protocol. Keep in mind that Boyan reserves some special menu letters for the various installed protocols. f. The next line asks for the external protocol file. Enter OZBEXT.EXE g. The next line asks if you need a download filename. Answer N since the filename is supplied as a part of the CIS B Plus Protocol. h. The next two lines involve the Boyan macros to call the external protocol module. Use the same macro for both the Upload macro and the Download Macro. Assuming the defaults of full duplex and COM1, and assuming that the external module resides in the default directory, the macro is: \DC-[%P:OZBEXT] If you are using COM2, the macro would be: \DC-[%P:OZBEXT /C%MD] The \DC-[...] is the DOS Command; the %P is the default directory; and the %MD is the comm port. See the Boyan docs for other combinations. ii. Hit PgDn to Recieve a File. iii. Select CIS B Plus as the protocol you wish to use. iv. You will next be prompted for a filename. Just hit since the CIS B Plus protocol will provide the filename to Boyan. 4. As soon as you have loaded OZBEXT, its copyright message will appear while it is loading. When the screen clears, it signifies that OZBEXT is loaded and ready to run. 5. NOW tell CompuServe that you wish to download the file with B Plus Protocol via the command DOW/PROTO:B. (Remember, you were sitting at the prompt and CompuServe was waiting for your download command when you shelled out to DOS to load the external module. 6. CompuServe will then prompt you for a filename to receive. Give a filename to receive and hit . The download should now begin automatically. 7. At the conclusion of the download, you will be returned to the familiar CompuServe prompt. At this time, you may navigate as usual and download other files from OZBEXT using the DOW/PROTO:B command without having to exit back to Boyan. 8. If you are finished downloading, then exit OZBEXT by hitting Alt-X. A. If you entered via a shell to DOS, you will be returned to the DOS prompt. Type EXIT at the DOS prompt and you will be returned to Boyan control in the CompuServe screen. B. If you entered via PgDn and the External Protocol selection, you will be immediately returned to Boyan control in the CompuServe screen. That's all there is to it! Enjoy!!! Conrad "Connie" Kageyama Sysop, 76703,1010 Updated 30 April 1989