Terminal Program for control system programmers

["rickmcneely@xxxxxxxxx" <rickmcneely@xxxxxxxxx>]

I have written a program for  control  system programmers.  Below text
is from the Readme file that accompanies the software.  Please let me
know if you are interestedand I'll send you a copy.

########################################################
HatcheTerm was written and Copyrighted in 2006 by Rick McNeely.
All Rights Reserved.

HatcheTerm-Lite v1.0b IS FREE!  HatcheTerm v1.0b offers NO WARRANTEE,
EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.  USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!  Neither the Program
file nor this file (ReadMe.txt) may be modified in any way without the
express permission of the Author.  This file (ReadMe.txt) MUST be
included with any distribution of HatcheTerm.

HatcheTerm-Pro IS NOT FREE! HatcheTerm-Pro is an advanced Version of
HatcheTerm-Pro and will be released soon.  A free Windows Version
Upgrade will be available to registered users of HatcheTerm-Pro.

Email me at the following address and I'll keep you informed about
program updates, etc.  Your email address will be used for no other
purpose whatsoever, nor will it be
sold/rented/leased/given/folded/spindled/mutilated/etc.

hatcheterm@xxxxxxxxx

==================================

>>WHY HATCHETERM?

  HatcheTerm was written to give control system programmers a useful
tool to aid in the understanding of various control protocols.

  In my own work, I have found 'Normal' terminal/telnet programs
severely lacking when it comes to the needs of control system
programmers.  The devices we work with require a blend of Hex and Text
that normal software simply doesn't address.  An example of this might
be Panasonic's 'ON' command for some if their projectors:

  AMX Command:
    " $02, 'PON', $03 "

  How would this be sent in a normal Terminal/Telnet Program?  It
can't.  But such a command is easy in HatcheTerm.  Simply set the
Line-Terminator option to 'None'(See Command Shortcuts Below), (we
don't want CRLF appended to Panasonic commands).  Then type in:

  $02PON$03

  Hit the 'Enter' key.  Did the projector turn on?

  It really is that easy.  Once you find the correct command string,
CTRL-Tab into Netlinx-Studio and select Paste.  HatcheTerm pastes the
pre-formatted control string into your program!  How cool is that!

  Using the Panasonic examples above:

  1. Start HatcheTerm and connect to the Panasonic device.
  2. Figure out the correct command string for the command you want to
use.
     In this example, that would be:
       $02PON$03.
  3. Paste the already formatted string into your program.
       " $02, 'PON', $03 "

>>PASSTHROUGH

  HatcheTerm allows pass-through operation.  What the heck is that?,
you might well ask!  The 'Control-Port' connects to the device you want
to control.  The 'Remote-Port' connects to anything else (think Netlinx
Controller, or PC with Control Program loaded).  Thus, you can watch
data pass through the program to the device under control.  You can see
which commands are working and which are not, and you can see these
commands in the format that you desire!

  HatcheTerm allows pass-through operation in the following modes:

    Serial to Serial
    Serial to TCP/IP
    TCP/IP to TCP/IP
    TCP/IP to Serial

>>COMMAND MEMORY

  There's nothing more annoying than typing in a long Hex string,
hitting 'Enter' and realizing that you made a boo-boo.  HatcheTerm
remembers the last twenty-five commands you typed, even after you close
the program!  Just use the cursor up/down keys to scroll through them,
then edit the command or just hit 'Enter'.

>>PORTABILITY

  HatcheTerm doesn't need to be installed.  Just copy and run!
HatcheTerm even runs directly from a thumb drive!

>>OTHER

  HatcheTerm is TINY!  Less than 90k, as of this writing.  You could
put it on a 1-Gig thumb drive over 11,000 times!  In addition,
HatcheTerm doesn't need to be installed.  Just copy and run!

  HatcheTerm is an awesome tool when used in conjunction with Netlinx
Studio's 'Passthrough' mode.  It offers an easy way to test everything
in the system but your program.  Give it a try!

  HatcheTerm works on all of the USB to Serial Converters that I have
tried.  Not guaranteed to work on any particular device.

==================================
COMMAND SHORTCUTS
==================================

 CTRL-D = Display Format
   Changes 'Display Format' to display incoming Control-Port data in
Text-Mode, Hex-Mode or Mixed Text+Hex Mode

 CTRL-R = Echo Remote
   Displays incoming Remote-Port data on the screen.  Useful in
situations where the device on the Control-Port does not echo incoming
data.

 CTRL-S = Setup
   Takes User to the 'Setup' page.

 CTRL-T = Line Terminator
   Changes Line-Terminator to 'Carriage-Return + Line Feed' or
'Carriage-Return' or Nothing.

 CTRL-Q = Quit
   Duh...

 F1     = Help

==================================
SHORT FAQ
==================================

  Q:  Why is HatcheTerm run in a "DOS" Window?
  A:  It's Not!  HatcheTerm runs in a 32-Bit Console window.  And the
reason it does that is SPEED.  When data is converted 'on-the-fly' as
it is in HatcheTerm, alot of processing power is consumed.
Applications run in console windows are simply faster.

  Q:  I hate that console window!  The fonts are TINY!
  A:  Fonts-size/Window-size can be changed easily by using the
Console-button in the upper left-hand corner of the program.  Simply
select Properties/Font-Tab and make your selection.  The program will
use your selection everytime it runs.

  Q:  Man, it would be great if HatcheTerm would blah blah blah...
  A:  Hey!  My email address is at the top.  Send me your suggestions.

  Q:  I was doing XYZ and the program locked/quit/etc...
  A:  This is a Beta version!  AND HATCHETERM-LITE IS FREE!  You get
what you pay for!  Seriously, while HatcheTerm is pretty darned stable,
it isn't perfect.  I am working to correct a few known bugs and when
these are fixed, I will notify you and you can get the latest version.

  Q:  I like cheese!
  A:  Dammit!  So do I!  If you want to reward me in any way, send me a
can of Cheese-Whiz, 'The Aerosol Cheese preferred by Pretty People!'.

==================================
TODO
==================================

Drink Beer.