NewDeal Technical Support Document 257

CONNECT FEATURE IN NEWMANAGER


Link your computer to another computer or to a GEOS-based CCD

You can use the Connect feature of NewManager to connect your computer to another computer, or to a GEOS-based Consumer Computer Device, and transfer files between them.

Connecting one computer to another computer

Both computers must have NewDeal software installed.

There must be an open serial port on each computer.

You need a null modem cable. A full null modem cable has the following pins swizzled:

[2-3,3-2,5&6-20,20-5&6,4-8,8-4]

NOTE: You might find something labeled "null modem" that has only pins 2 and 3 swizzled. That might work if both your ports are only 9 pins, but the layout shown is one you can count on.

  1. Attach the null modem cable to a serial port on each computer.
  2. On each computer, run Preferences and click Connect.
  3. In Connect, give each computer a name. Select the drives you want to share between computers. Choose the correct COM port on each computer. Set the same baud rate on both machines.
  4. When both computers have been configured correctly in Preferences, simply click the Connect button in NewManager on both computers and answer YES. The Connect button is the one that looks like two arrows, between the DOS button and the drive buttons at the bottom of the NewManager window. The drives on each computer should appear on the "other" computer. At this point, you have the full functionality of NewManager from either computer. If you have any trouble, try using a lower baud rate (remember - the baud rate on both machines must be the same).

To disconnect the computers, click on the disconnect button. The drive buttons for the remote computers will disappear.

Error Message FM-137

If you get error message FM-137 "Unable to start File Linking - Port is already in use or does not exist," check your GEOS.INI file for the three lines below. If they are not there, add them. They can be added as a new section anywhere in the file. At the very end of the file is a good choice.
[netLibrary]
domainName = /COMM
initDrivers = COMM.GEO

Connecting a computer to GEOS-based CCD

(like the Casio Z-7000, Tandy Z-PDA, AST GRiD 2390, or the Sharp PT-9000)

  1. Attach the null modem cable to the serial port on computer and the serial port on the CCD.
  2. On the computer, run Preferences and click Connect. On the CCD, run Preferences and tap on Connect.
  3. In Connect, give each device a name. Select the drives you want to share on the computer. Choose the correct COM port on the computer. Set the same baud rate on both devices. Close Preferences.
  4. When the devices have been configured correctly, click the Connect button in NewManager and answer YES. On the CCD, tap on File Linking in File Manager. The drive buttons should appear in both places and you can manage files from either the computer or the CCD.

To disconnect the computer, click on the Disconnect button. To disconnect the CCD, tap the Cancel button. The drive buttons for the remote computer will disappear.


Removing the Connect Button in NewManager

You can remove the Connect button from NewManager by editing the GEOS.INI file.

In the [file manager] section, find the line:

features = 32768
change it to
features = 0
or remove the line altogether, or put a semicolon at the start of the line, like this:
;features = 32768
Then run RESET.BAT in the directory where you installed the software and the Connect button will be gone when you run the software again.

Path Lengths When Using Connect

There is a limit to how deep you can copy or move files with Connect. It has to do with the path length limit in DOS, which is 63 characters. If you "click" your way into the path in NewManager, you can overcome some of the limitation. Using short directory names helps, too.
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Last Modified 17 Feb 1999