Running LINKUP
27
To run the program, just type “LINKUP” at the DOS
command prompt.
NOTE: If you haven’t told DOS where the LINKUP
files are (via the path and append
statements in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file),
first make the directory that holds the
LINKUP files your working directory.
3.1 Hints for Using LINKUP and the Code
Operated Matrix Switch
When you’re using the COMS and LINKUP, it helps
to keep these recommendations in mind:
• Give each port on the COMS a unique,
descriptive name.
• Select the default attention string (“@”) on all
COMS ports and LINKUP programs. It’ll be
easier to keep track of.
• Before making a link, check to make sure the
desired port is not already in use
• Before breaking someone else’s link, make sure
that user has finished.
• When you can, make a Transparent Link instead
of a Regular Link. Making a Transparent Link
will often eliminate problems related to the
content of the data.
• After your link is made, exit LINKUP and use
your regular application program or the DOS
PRINT command to send or receive data
through the COMS unit.
• After all your data has passed through the
COMS unit, reenter LINKUP and break your
Transparent Link with the BREAK YOUR LINK
menu option in the Link Menu.
3.2 Sending Data with DOS
You can use the DOS PRINT command to send data
through the COMS unit. The PRINT command will
let you send a file out your PC’s COM port using the
baud rate and word structure defined by the last
MODE COM command (see Section 2.4.2, “DOS
MODE Command”). The PRINT command con-
figures the COM port for hardware flow control.
Example:
PRINT <filename.ext>
NOTE: We do not recommend using the DOS COPY
command (for example, “COPY filename.ext
COM1”) because it does not support flow
control.
If you used a MODE LPT command to redirect
parallel-printer output to a COM port, then just use
the default (“PRN”) value at the next DOS prompt
for list device. Otherwise, enter “COM1” as the list
device the first time you execute the print
command.
3.3 Sending Data with Your Application
Programs
You can also send data through the COMS unit with
commands in your application programs.
For some applications, like communications
packages, you can configure the COM port param-
eters (including flow control) and use a
transmit/send or receive/ capture command to
transfer data through the COM port. These
programs usually have options to use standard
protocols (like the XMODEM protocol) to transfer
files between two PCs’ COM ports.
3. Running LINKUP
