Re: Softerm2 (was: IIe as terminal - Help!)

[casa@unm.edu (Jim Pittman)]

Re:

>Date:  5 Feb 1997 02:28:11 GMT
>From: louiss@gate.net                 (Louis Schulman)
>Organization: CyberGate
>
>I have a hardware/software package called Softerm2 that seems to be
>able to emulate any dumb terminal.  It has a card that adds 3 extra
>"shift" buttons to the keyboard, allowing many extra defined keystrokes.
>
>The software contains many pre-configured terminal patterns, as well
>as communications software. The only problem seems to be that while
>the program /card runs on a //e, it seems to get a little mixed up
>with mousetext. I haven't spent the time to see if this is fixable.
>
>Is anyone familiar with this package, and would it solve Lars'
>problem?
>
>Louis

I have been using Softerm-2 since 1983 or so and I'm using it right
now on the unenhanced Apple IIe that replaced the Apple II Plus I
used at work for 13 years until its Videx Enhancer II finally died.

Softerm-2 provided the 3-button keyboard (attached to a card that went
in one of the computer's slots) to enhance the Apple II Plus keyboard.
Softerm-2 works just fine on an unenhanced Apple IIe; the card and 3-
button keyboard work fine, but they are not needed for most functions
because the open-apple and closed-apple keys do the same thing buttons
1 and 2 do on the keyboard expander, and there are few Softerm-2
functions that require the third button.

Since I have a Videx Ultraterm card in my IIe and since I don't have
an enhanced IIe, I can not be certain that Softerm-2 works with no
problems with mousetext -- but the Softerm-2 manual references both
the IIe and IIc so I can't imagine it wouldn't work.

There was a cheaper version of Softerm-2 that had a 2-button keyboard.

There was a later version of Softerm-2 that specifically supported
128-k in a IIc or a IIe with a memory card. As far as I know it worked
pretty much the same as the version I've got.

The above programs are DOS 3.3 based and run off a 5.25" disk. There
was a ProDOS version of Softerm-2 that was reported to be much less
functional and more buggy but I can't vouch for that.

Finally, there was an early SOFTERM program before they developed the
card and 3-button keyboard enhancer; it was heavily copy-protected and
used pre-fix control key codes to get all the terminal emulation
functions.

I consider Softerm-2 the best Apple II Plus program I ever saw and it
is an excellent terminal emulation package unless you want to do file
transfers with Kermit, Xmodem, Ymodem or Zmodem -- it does not support
them. Its proprietary file transfer protocol requires that you install
a FORTRAN program on the computer you plan to exchange files with  :-O

If you want Softerm-2 you'll have to get it on the used market; if you
find a copy for sale, be sure it includes the excellent manual.

- Jim Pittman - AppleQuerque Computer Club - casa@unm.edu