Acorn computer econet level 2/3 User Manual
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Acorn computer econet level 2/3 User Manual

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  • Page 3 Acorn Econet Level 2 and 3 File Server user guide Within this publication the term "BBC" is used as an abbreviation for "British Broadcasting Corporation" 412,018 Issue 2 February 1985 Written, designed and typeset by Baddeley Associates Limited, Cambridge © Copyright Acorn Computers Limited 1985...
  • Page 4 Neither the whole or any part of the information contained in, or the product described in, this manual may be adapted or reproduced in any material form except with the prior written approval of Acorn Computers Limited (Acorn Computers). The product described in this manual and products for use with it, are subject to continuous development and improvement.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Contents Using Econet Using commands Getting going Switching on Logging on Passwords Finishing Simple filing Saving and loading BASIC programs Displaying a catalogue Naming files Files and directories Deleting files Renaming files Protecting your files Getting information about your files Filing system commands in BASIC programs 18 Using directories Creating directories...
  • Page 6 Using other discs What happens when you log on Selecting another disc Using files from another disc Machine-code and data files Saving areas of memory Loading an area of memory Running a machine-code program Libraries Selecting libraries Recording keystrokes in files Setting up automatic start routines Autostart at log-on Reading and writing to files...

  • Page 7: Using Econet

    Using Econet Econet is a network — a set of computers connected together. Each computer on the network is called a station. This guide tells you how you can use Econet from your own station to communicate with other computers on the network. The most important station you'll be communicating with is the file server.

  • Page 8: Using Commands

    Using commands Throughout this guide there are instructions for typing in commands to which the following rules apply: ■ showing a word in [ ] means it is a key EXAMPLE: [ RETURN] means the RETURN key ■ descriptions in < > should be replaced by the information required, without typing the brackets EXAMPLE: <filename>...

  • Page 9: Getting Going

    Getting going Switching on Switch on your BBC micro and your monitor. Screen: BBC Computer 32K Econet Station xxx BASIC xxx is the number of your station on the network. You are now ready to use Econet. If the message "Econet Station" is missing, hold down N while pressing then releasing [BREAK];...

  • Page 10: Passwords

    When logging on, you may have to specify the file server you want to log on to. You will have to do this if your network has more than one file server, or if your file server has a different station number from the one Econet expects.

  • Page 11: Finishing

    NOTE: this facility may not be available on your Econet. See the notes on software versions in the reference section. If you type in a different password, or no password at all, you will get a "Wrong password" error, and the file server will not allow you to log on.

  • Page 12: Simple Filing

    Simple filing Saving and loading SAVE and LOAD BASIC programs If you want to store a BASIC program on the file server so that you can use it again later type: SAVE"<filename>"[RETURN] A copy of the BASIC program in your computer's memory will be taken and stored for you on the file server.

  • Page 13: Displaying A Catalogue

    NOTE: your computer holds one program at a time as its current program. If you press the [BREAK] key, that program is cleared from its memory. The program can be recovered by typing: OLD[RETURN] If you SAVE the program before recovering it, an empty file will be created.

  • Page 14: Naming Files

    Your rights of access to the files listed (owner or public) The autostart option you have selected The name of the directory currently selected as your library The meanings of these pieces of information will become clear as you work through this guide and get used to using the file server. Naming files There are rules for the names you give your files.

  • Page 15: Deleting Files

    EXAMPLE TUNES DL/ To create your own directories, you will need the command *CDIR, which is explained in the section of this guide on Using directories. Deleting files *DELETE Type: *DELETE <filename>[RETURN] and your file of that name will be permanently removed from the disc.

  • Page 16: Protecting Your Files

    You cannot rename directories, but you can move a file from one directory to another, provided they are both on the same disc. How to do this is explained in the Using directories section of this guide. You may get a message "Entry locked". This means the file is has been protected using *ACCESS, as explained in the next section.
  • Page 17 without R you cannot: with L you cannot: LOAD the file SAVE over the file *LOAD it *DELETE it *<filename> it *RENAME it *EXEC it create a *SPOOL file over it OPENOUT it (*LOAD, *<filename>, *EXEC and *SPOOL are explained in the section on Machine-code and data files;...

  • Page 18: Getting Information About Your Files

    Getting information * INFO, *EX and about your files *OPT1 The *INFO command displays information about the file so that you can find out how big it is, what its access string is, and what its reload and execution addresses are (these terms are explained in the section on Machine-code and data files).
  • Page 19 The *EX command makes the computer perform an *INFO on all the items in your directory. The result is a display that looks like a *CAT display, but with the extra *INFO details on each file. Type: *EX[RETURN] EXAMPLE Type: *EX[RETURN] Screen: ROBERT...

  • Page 20: Filing System Commands In Basic Programs

    Filing system commands in BASIC programs You can include Econet file server commands in your BASIC programs. EXAMPLE This is a very simple program to get a repeating catalogue on your screen. 10 REM CATALOGUE 20 *CAT 30 GOTO 20 40 END...

  • Page 21: Using Directories

    Using directories Creating directories *CDIR You can create sub-directories within your main directory, so that you can organise your files into groups and sub-groups. For example, you might put all your programs that play tunes into a sub-directory called TUNES. The ones that play film tunes could go into a sub-directory of TUNES called FILM.
  • Page 22 You may have directories within your sub-directories: you can have as many layers of directories as you like, up to 255. To specify a pathname for a file: ■ start with the sub-directory name ■ then list all the further directories, in order ■...

  • Page 23: Displaying A Sub-Directory

    type: *CDIR TUNES.POP[RETURN] *CDIR TUNES.FILM[RETURN] Displaying a sub-directory *CAT *CAT produces a display of your main directory; you can get displays of your sub-directories by typing *CAT <directory name>[RETURN] EXAMPLE You log on as ROBERT. Type: *CAT[RETURN] Your main directory comes up on the screen. It contains two ordinary files and a sub-directory called TUNES.

  • Page 24: Getting Information About Sub-Directories

    Screen: FILM (014) Owner Master-disc Option 00 (Off) Dir. ROBERT Lib. LIBRARY DAMBUSTERS WR/WR STING WR/WR You can think of ROBERT's files and directories as a family tree, like this: In this diagram, files are shown in lower case letters (maths, a, b), and directories in upper case letters (ROBERT, TUNES, FILM).

  • Page 25: Selecting Directories

    Selecting directories * DIR You may want to work in a directory other than the one selected for you when you logged on. Type: *DIR <directory name>[RETURN] This directory now becomes your currently selected directory. Typing *CAT will produce a catalogue of this directory, not of your main directory.

  • Page 26: The Root Directory

    The root directory Outside all the main directories on your disc — and containing them — is the root directory. It's so called because it's at the root of the tree of directories, sub-directories and files. Displaying the root directory *CAT $ The root directory is called $.

  • Page 27: Using Other Users' Files

    Using other users' files You can now specify any file in the directories listed in the root directory. You do this by giving the file's full pathname. A full pathname consists of: ■ the root directory name ($), followed by a full stop ■...
  • Page 28 Other users, with only public access to that directory, can do none of these. You have owner access to your own main directory and sub- directories, but public access to any directory that you specify beginning with a $ or that you reach (using *DIR) via the root directory.

  • Page 29: Working With Groups Of Files

    Working with groups of files Wildcards It is sometimes useful to refer to a group of files or directories in one command. You can do this by using wildcards — symbols that refer to any character or set of characters in a filename. The two wildcard symbols are # and *: ■...

  • Page 30: Other Uses For Wildcards

    *ACCESS TUNES.* L/ will give the access string L/ to all the files in your sub- directory TUNES. *ACCESS Z* WR/WR will give the access string WR/WR to all your files that start with a Z, however long those names are, and including a name that is just Z.

  • Page 31: Using Other Discs

    Using other discs This section contains information which applies only if your Econet file server has more than one disc drive. What happens when you log on Each time you log on, the file server selects one of the discs in use as your logged disc.

  • Page 32: Using Files From Another Disc

    EXAMPLE Type: *DISCS[RETURN] Screen: drive disc name Master-disc Every disc used on your file server is an independent filing system, with its own root directory and tree of directories and files. When you switch discs, the file server logs you on to the new disc. Unless you have a main directory on both discs, it will select the new disc's root directory $ as your current directory.

  • Page 33: Machine-Code And Data Files

    Machine-code and data files Saving areas of memory * SAVE This command is used to save files such as machine-code programs and data. The *SAVE command saves an area of memory as a file. Type: *SAVE <filename><s> +<1>[RETURN] <s> here stands for start address; <1>...

  • Page 34: Loading An Area Of Memory

    EXAMPLE Type: *SAVE PROG 3000 +300 3030[RETURN] This saves a machine-code file which will be executed at 3030 if you load it using * or *RUN (these commands will be explained shortly). If you leave out the execution address, execution will begin at the start address.

  • Page 35: Running A Machine-Code Program

    You can also specify where in memory you wish to load a file. Type: * LOAD <filename> <start> [RETURN] EXAMPLE Type: *LOAD DATA 5000[RETURN] This ignores the reload address of DATA and loads the file at address 5000 in memory. Running a machine-code * and *RUN program...

  • Page 36: Libraries

    Type: *RUN <filename>[RETURN] EXAMPLE If you have a program CAT which you wish to load and run as a command, typing *CAT will display a list of your files. Type: *RUN CAT[RETURN] to load and run the file CAT. Libraries When you use the *<filename>...

  • Page 37: Selecting Libraries

    Selecting libraries * LIB You can change your currently selected library using *LIB, just as you can use *DIR to change your currently selected directory. Type: *LIB <library name>[RETURN] EXAMPLE You have several machine-code programs, which you have filed in a directory called PROGS. When you want to use them, you switch your currently selected library to PROGS.
  • Page 38 Commands like *CAT produce confusing results in spool files, because the file server will display a catalogue when you type *CAT; the spool file will then include the catalogue display. To avoid this effect, create your command file as a BASIC program, like this: 10 *SPOOL STARTUP 20 PRINT"*CAT"...

  • Page 39: Setting Up Automatic Start Routines

    Setting up automatic start routines Autostart at log-on *OPT4 You can make your next Econet session, and every subsequent session, start automatically with the same action or sequence of actions. To do this: Create a file called !BOOT in your main directory. Put in it the commands you want the file server to carry out each time you log on.
  • Page 40 Once the filing system has finished carrying out its autostart routine, you can continue your session as normal. EXAMPLE You might set up a !BOOT file that, whenever you log on: ■ prints out "Hello" ■ gives you a catalogue ■...

  • Page 41: Reading And Writing To Files

    Reading and writing to files The idea of random access One advantage of storing your work on discs, rather than on a cassette, is that it is much easier for the computer to find quickly a particular item — just as it's much easier to move straight to a particular track on a record than it is on a cassette.
  • Page 42 The BASIC keywords which ask the file server to open a file for random access are: ■ in BASIC I, OPENOUT (to create a new file to write to and read) and OPENIN (to read and update an existing file) ■...

  • Page 43: Using The Pointer

    Using the pointer The next step is to point to the particular byte in the file that you want to read or write to. The pointer keyword is PTR#. EXAMPLE PTR#X=1000 This means: in the file with channel X, point to byte number 1000.

  • Page 44: Closing The File

    Closing the file When you have finished with your file, close it using the keyword CLOSE#. EXAMPLES CLOSE#X means: close channel X; I have finished with the file. CLOSE#0 means: close all my open files. Other random access operations You can use the keyword EXT# to find out how many bytes have been written to the file.

  • Page 45: Interlocks

    EXAMPLES INPUT#X, WORD$ reads data from the file with channel X, starting at the byte pointed to, and puts the data read into the variable WORD$. PRINT#X,"MONDAY" writes the string MONDAY to the file with channel X, starting at the byte pointed to. There is a summary of all the random access keywords at the back of this guide.

  • Page 46: Printing

    Printing If you have a printer server in your Econet you can print out your work as if you had a printer attached to your machine. Type: *PS[RETURN] You may have to specify the printer server you want to use. You will have to do this if your network has more than one printer server, or if your printer server has a different station number from the one Econet expects.
  • Page 47 If someone else on the network is already using the printer you will see the message "Not Listening" after 30 seconds. If this happens, wait and try again or save your work and print it out when the printer is free. When you have finished printing press: [CTRL]C...

  • Page 48: Communicating With Other Users

    Communicating with other users You can send short messages to other stations by using the *NOTIFY command. Type: *NOTIFY <user id><message>[RETURN] *NOTIFY <station><message>[RETURN] <user id> here stands for user identifier; <station> stands for stantio number. EXAMPLE You are at station 199. To send the message "Hello" to a user whose identifier is JULIE and who is working at station number type: *NOTIFY JULIE HELLO[RETURN]...

  • Page 49: Using Other Filing Systems

    Using other filing systems You may have other filing systems available to you. The following keywords are used to select the system you want. To select a system, type its keyword, then press [RETURN]. 300 baud cassette system *TAPE3 1200 baud cassette system *TAPE12 or *TAPE prestel and teletext system...

  • Page 50: Reference Section

    Reference section Software versions Some features of Econet and its filing system vary depending on the software your system has. This section describes: ■ the two versions of the Econet software ■ the two versions of BASIC. To find out which version of the Econet software you have type: *HELP[RETURN] A display like this will come up:...
  • Page 51 To find out which version of BASIC you have press: [BREAK] then type: REPORT[RETURN] A copyright message will come up on the screen. If the copyright date is 1981, you have BASIC I; if it's 1982, you have BASIC II. For Econet users, the important difference between the two BASICs is in the keywords used to open files for random access;...

  • Page 52: Commands

    Commands This is a list of the commands mentioned in this guide. It covers four kinds of command: ■ BASIC commands and keywords (for example, CHAIN) ■ operating system commands (for example, *FX5,4) ■ Econet commands (for example, *PS) ■ file server commands (for example, *ACCESS).
  • Page 53 *DIR [<name>] selects the directory specified as the user's currently selected directory; if no name is specified, the user's main directory is selected *DISC or *DISK selects a disc filing system *DISCS displays the names of the discs currently in use *EX [<name>] displays information on the contents of the directory specified;...
  • Page 54 *NOTIFY <user identifier><message> sends the message specified to the user specified *NOTIFY <station number><message> sends the message specified to the station specified *OPT<number>,<number> selects an option; *OPT1,<number> selects a file information display option, and *OPT4,<number> sets an autostart option *PASS ""<password> sets the password specified *PASS <current password><new password>...

  • Page 55: Command Name Abbreviations

    *SDISC <disc name> logs the user on to the disc specified *SPOOL [<name>] creates a spool file with the name specified; if no name is specified, it ends the current spool file *TAPE3 selects a 300 baud cassette filing system *TAPE12 or *TAPE selects a 1200 baud cassette filing system *TELESOFT...

  • Page 56: Random Access Keywords

    Random access keywords In this list: ■ <ch> means a variable whose value is a channel number ■ <num-var> means a variable whose value is a number ■ <numeric> means a number, or a variable whose value is a number ■...
  • Page 57 <num-var>=BGET#<ch> puts into the variable the contents of the byte pointed to BPUT#<ch>,<numeric> puts the number or variable into the byte pointed to INPUT#<ch>,<num-vars or string-vars> puts data from the file into the numeric or string variables specified PRINT#<ch>,<numerics or strings> puts the numbers, strings or variables into the file...

  • Page 58: Error Messages

    Error messages This is a list of the most common error messages that you may receive at your station. If you get a message that is not listed here, ask the network manager for help. The numbers shown are the error numbers, in decimal. The error number 168 has several different kinds of error associated with it: this is simply because there are more possible errors than available numbers.
  • Page 59 Bad string The filename or pathname you have specified is too long, or you have omitted a " symbol. Broken dir Your directory has been damaged, probably by a disc error. Ask your network manager for help. Individual error number: 66. Channel In random access, you have tried to BPUT a byte to or BGET a byte from a file that is not open.
  • Page 60 Stands for end of file. In random access, you have tried to read past the end of the file. Insufficient access You have tried to read or write to a file that does not have R or W in the appropriate part of its access string. Insufficient privilege Ordinary users are not allowed to do what you have just tried to do.
  • Page 61 Outside file Using OPENIN in BASIC I, you have tried to place a random access pointer past the end of a file. PW file not found You may get this message when you try to log on. Tell the network manager. Individual error number: 33. Rename across discs You cannot use *RENAME to move a file between directories on different discs.

  • Page 62: Glossary

    Glossary Access string a series of letters indicating users' access rights to a file Catalogue a list of the contents of a directory Directory a collection of files and other directories Execution address the location in a file at which execution will start when the file is loaded by the *<filename>...
  • Page 63 Network a set of computers connected together so that they can exchange information network filing system, the software that runs the Econet filing system operating system, the software that runs your computer's communications with its keyboard, screen and any other devices — a printer, for example — that you might connect to it Pathname an extended name for a file or directory that indicates its exact...

  • Page 64: Index

    Index *<filename> *ACCESS 14, 27 Access owner public random 39, 54 rights 11, 14, 25 strings Ambiguous references Autostart BGET# BPUT# *BYE *CAT 11, 21, 24 Catalogues 11, 21 *CDIR CHAIN CLOSE# Commands abbreviations list of using Communicating with other users Conventions (used in this guide) Data files *DELETE...
  • Page 65 Discs names 29, 30 random access selecting EOF# Error messages 17, 22 *EXEC EXT# File server 5, 8 Files closing deleting information about machine-code and data moving files between directories names opening pathnames protecting 14, 27 renaming Filing systems 5, 39, 47 Finishing *FX5,4 *HELP...
  • Page 66 *NET Network manager *NOTIFY OPENIN, OPENOUT and OPENUP Opening a file *OPT 17, 37 OSARGS OSFIND OSGBPB Owner access *PASS Passwords Pathnames 19, 20, 25 PRINT# Printing Programs random access in running machine-code programs saving and loading BASIC programs using commands in 18, 36 PTR# Public access...

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