Re: getting "dumb" terminal message in Unix shell

[nparker@cie-2.uoregon.edu (Neil Parker)]

In article <01bc4555$8b87c9c0$af3ae6cf@byte> "byte" <byte@i1.net> writes:
>
>   As the title states  Using my apple IIGS with Spectrum 2.0 (I have 5.25
>megs of
> ram)  logging on to my isp's shell is no problem,  but when I type "pine"
>to read
> my mail it tells me I have a "dumb" terminal and I do not have the
>capabilities to 
> use pine.   I have done it.  Alot.  I don't know why I can't now.

First, make sure Spectrum is set to use VT100 emulation.  I don't actually
own Spectrum, so I can't help you figure out how to do this.

The next step depends on what operating system your ISP is running.
Assuming they're running some variety of UNIX, type the following command
at your UNIX command prompt:

     grep  (username) /etc/passwd

(replace the word "(username)" by your user name--for example, my username
is "nparker", so I would type "grep nparker /etc/passwd").  Look at the
very end of the response.  If the last word of the response is "csh" or
"tcsh", type the following:

     set term=vt100

On the other hand, if the last word of the response is "sh" or "ksh" or
"bash", type this:

     TERM=vt100;export TERM

On the third hand, if the response was none of the above, or if you ISP
isn't running UNIX, you'll have to talk to your system administrator.

If you succeed in getting one of those commands to work, you can make the
setting permanent by putting it in your logon script.  The csh/tcsh command
should be put into a file called ".login", or the sh/ksh/bash command
should be put in a file called ".profile".  (But there are some subtle
issues involved in the latter case...your system administrator can help you
if you have any problems with it).

             - Neil Parker
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