Computers: Universe: Terminal Commands

SET.TERM.TYPE

Syntax: SET.TERM.TYPE terminalname

In order to properly control your display, UniVerse must know what kind of terminal you are using. Each terminal must be sent different sets of 'instruction strings' to do things like clear the screen, position the cursor, and so on. If you were using a DEC VT100 terminal you'd enter the command SET.TERM.TYPE VT100. You'd enter the same command, of course, if you were using a terminal which emulated a VT100, or a PC based 'terminal emulator' in VT100 mode.

To see the list of terminal types supported by your UniVerse installation, enter the SET.TERM.TYPE command without a terminal name. When you are prompted for one, enter a ?, and the names will be listed.

Some terminals, and most terminal emulators, can display a range of screen sizes other than the ubiquitous 80 columns by 24 rows. To persuade UniVerse to make use of the extra space in displaying enquiry results and so forth, enter the command SET.TERM.TYPE WIDTH numberofcols LENGTH numberofrows. You can also add the WIDTH and LENGTH keywords after the terminal name and thus set the terminal type, and its dimensions, in a single command.

The SET.TERM.TYPE command is often included in LOGIN paragraphs (see LOGIN, ON.EXIT and ON.ABORT): complete with a terminal name if the developer knows the kind of terminal his users will be using, and without if he does not (so that they will be prompted to choose one).

GET.TERM.TYPE

Syntax: GET.TERM.TYPE

Sister command to SET.TERM.TYPE, displays the current terminal type, width and length settings.

PTERM

Syntax: PTERM settingname setting

Use PTERM to define your terminal settings. To get a complete list of possible settingname values, simply type PTERM, and they will all be displayed along with their current values. By far the most import is PTERM ERASE (press erase key), which will define the key use wish to use to 'backspace' over mistyped characters. If you try PTERM ERASE..., and see the message PTERM: Option 'ERASE' requires an argument, it means that whatever key you pressed is already defined as the erase key, and effectively erased the space after the ERASE rather than being passed to PTERM as a parameter: in other words, you needn't worry.

CS

Syntax: CS

Clears the screen.