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erkyrath.infocom-zcode-terps/create/tn20.rno
Andrew Plotkin b642da811e Initial commit.
2023-11-16 18:19:54 -05:00

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.c;HOW TO USE TN20
.s
NOTE: Make sure that the cable in the micro-room labelled "TN20" is
attached to the appropriate port of the micro-computer you are
transferring to. Follow the instructions for that particular machine to
prepare it for transfer. When you are instructed to do so, return here
to run TN20.
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1. Log onto the DEC-20.
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2. When the @-prompt appears, type "TN20".
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3. You will be asked what file to send. If you are not connected to the
directory that file lives in, you must prefix the file name with the
directory name, followed by a colon. For example, the Atari and
Commodore interpreters live in the Z directory; to transfer them you
would type Z:ZIP.ATR or Z:ZIP.C64, respectively.
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Most game directories are located on the alternate disk drive, called
SS. (The primary disk drive is called PS.) In order to copy Starcross,
for example, you would have to type "SS:<STARCROSS>STARCROSS". TN20
assumes the ".ZIP" suffix, so you don't need to include it.
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If you are making a two-disk game, such as Deadline on the Atari, the
game file must be sent in two parts, called [game].PRE (the first part)
and [game].PUR (the second part). To split the game file into these two
sub-files, first connect to the directory it lives in. For example, to
connect to the Zork I directory, type "CONN SS:<ZORK1>" at the @-prompt.
When the @-prompt reappears, type "SPLIT [game]". After several seconds,
you will be informed that the game file has been split. Then, when TN20
asks which file you want to send, type "[game].PRE", and later
"[game].PUR".
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4. TN20 will now ask what machine you are transferring to. Simply type
the name of the machine: Apple, Atari, Osborne, etc. If you are not sure
what a valid response here is, type a question mark to get a listing of
all valid responses.
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5. TN20 will then inform you of the baud rate it will transfer at (4800
for the Rainbow, 2400 for the Apple, and so on). Type any key to
commence with the transfer.
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6. If everything is okay, a whole lot of A's should begin appearing on
the screen of the DEC-20 terminal you are using. A's will appear on the
screens of certain receiving micro-computers, but not all. If the A's do
not appear on the DEC-20 terminal, go to the troubleshooting section.
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7. When the transfer is complete, TN20 will tell you the actual baud
rate and compare it to the theoretical baud rate. (The higher the
percentage, the better the speed of the receiving micro.) Because of a
bug, you may get a double @-prompt.
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8. If you want to transfer another game file, type "RESET TN20". If you
are done, then log out of the DEC-20.
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TROUBLESHOOTING: If the transfer didn't work, check to make sure that
the TN20 cable is properly plugged into the receiving micro. Look at the
screen of the receiving micro -- there might be an error message of some
kind there that will tell you what's wrong. Finally, some twit may have
unplugged the TN20 cable from the other end, in the main computer room.
.pg
.c;HOW TO TRANSFER GAMES FROM THE DEC-20 TO THE PDP-11
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1. Log onto the 20. When the @-prompt appears, type "11".
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2. You will get a prompt that looks like "20>". Type "C" to connect to the
11.
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3. Log onto the 11. When the period-prompt appears, type "20".
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4. You will see a prompt that looks like "11>". Type "R".
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5. You will be asked for the name of the file to be received. Type in
"INT:[game]", where [game] is the six-letter abbreviation for the game name.
For example, to transfer Starcross, you would type "INT:STRCRS". You
will see a message like "[N blocks]", where N is the number of free
blocks available in the INT directory.
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6. The "11>" will reappear. Type "B".
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7. Hit the BREAK key. The "20>" prompt will reappear.
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8. Type "X". The @-prompt will reappear.
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9. Follow the separate instructions for running TN20. When TN20 asks for
the machine name, type "PDP-11".
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10. A bunch of A's will appear on the screen. The transfer will take
around five minutes.
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11. When the transfer is complete, the @-prompt will reappear. Type "11"
and hit return.
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12. The "20>" prompt should reappear. Type "C" to return to the PDP-11.
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13. When the period-prompt appears, type the name of the game file (DEADLN for
Deadline, etc.). When the game prompt appears, test the game by typing
"$verify".
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12. Leave the game (type "quit"). When the period-prompt appears, log out of
the 11.
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13. Hit the break key. The "20>" prompt will appear. Type "Q" to disconnect
from the 11. You are now back at your original 20 login.
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NOTE: There are a limited number of remote lines between the 11 and the
20. If, at some point, you are informed that a given remote line is
already in use, you will have to try again later when it is free.
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ANOTHER NOTE: If the INT directory on the 11 is too full, you won't be
able to transfer the game file successfully. If this happens, ask
someone to delete some unimportant files from the INT directory.