Carol...

 CS{at}> Cool Tom!  I know little of that software but I'm always curious about
 CS{at}> new ones!  I checked the website.  Can I recommend an added section?
 CS{at}> Something that gives a run-down on it's current capabilities?

  First, I apologize for the length of this reply.

  I ran GT Power for 13 years as a dial-up only BBS, as that's what the last
release would do under DOS or Windows. Under OS/2, using the Vmodem driver,
you could get GT to work under telnet...since you basically need a fossil
driver for the BBS to work under telnet. However, many of the older legacy
doors don't have a fossil, so one needs a telnet server, or comport emulator
(such as what Synchronet has now), to fool these legacy doors into thinking
the comport is actually on comport 1, 2, 3, or 4...however, for all practical
purposes, actual comport values are "ignored" by telnet.

  Tom plans to add similar telnet functionality to Windows based systems...and 
eventually HTML pages, etc. Obviously, this will take some time for it to be
implemented, but I've volunteered to be a "guinea pig" and "features
consultant" 
of sorts, for Tom...although he will do most of the work on the documentation
and programming. GT was originally distributed in several different archives...
Tom is going to make it in just one archive. 

  Feature wise, here is a list of what GT did, from the documentation of its
last official release, from its original author, Paul Meiners...I think most,
if not all of these will be available in the new releases. The biggest changes
will be that the program will be freeware (but NOT open source), and telnet 
capable under Windows. Right now, it can ONLY do dial-up under Windows
systems...
however, if you use it under DOSBOX, you can telnet into another BBS. 
Unfortunately, it seems to lock when you try to use RIP Graphics under DOSBOX.

Features:

 1.   ANSI Standard terminal emulation, compatible with many super-mini
      and super-micro computers.  The VT-100 terminal, manufactured by
      Digital Equipment Corporation, is an example of an ANSI Standard
      terminal.

 2.   VT-52 terminal emulation, compatible with many telephone banking
      systems.  The VT-52 terminal is manufactured by Digital Equipment
      Corporation and is an older type of computer terminal.

 3.   ANSI.SYS style color graphics, without the need of ANSI.SYS!

 4.   RIPscrip graphics.  Color vector graphics, based on EGA mode 640 x
      350 x 16.  Very beautiful graphics are possible using RIPscrip,
      including circles, ellipses and diagonal lines!!  Graphics are
      viewable in both host and terminal modes.

 5.   BASIC style PLAY for single voice music.  Some BBS systems can
      send music strings to terminal programs, formatted according to
      the PLAY command in BASIC.  GT POWER can decode these commands
      and play the music on the PC's speaker.

 6.   Multiple telephone directories, with 999 entries each. Records
      the password for each BBS, as well as the date and time of last
      contact.  The total number of calls, accumulated time, uploads and
      downloads are also recorded.  The directory may be perused while
      on-line with a host system.  A Microsoft compatible mouse can be
      used with the telephone directory to speed and simplify usage.

 7.   Circular redialing queue.  Up to 999 numbers may be put into queue.

 8.   Capture Mode, limited only by the amount of disk space available.
      A spill file is used, when the capture buffer is full.  The capture 
      buffer can be reviewed on-line, before saving to disk, so it can
      act as a scroll-back buffer.  The amount of data in the capture 
      is displayed on the status line.

 9.   ASCII file transmission,  using XON/XOFF protocol and/or line-
      by-line pacing and/or inter-character delays.

 10.  Support for an ENQ answerback.  For systems requiring a response
      to the Ctrl-E, ENQ, character.  The same substitutions used in
      keyboard macros are available for use in the ENQ answerback, such
      as '|' for carriage return and '~' for a 1 second delay.

 11.  Full control of all communication parameters.  Plus, full support
      for the 16550A UART including FIFOs (very nice for use with high
      speed modems and/or multi-tasking setups).

 12.  40 function keys, to store logon, passwords, etc.  The function
      keys have full macro capabilities, so that automation of the
      program can be easily accomplished, includes record and playback
      features.  On enhanced keyboards, with F11/F12 keys, GT POWER
      supports 48 function keys.

 13.  Full printer support, using XON/XOFF flow control with the host.

 14.  Xmodem/CRC protocol.  Plus optional support for the Xmodem
      Checksum protocol.

 15.  WXmodem protocol.  This is the full-duplex, windowed version of
      Xmodem.

 16.  Ymodem/CRC protocol.  Both the batch and single file version of
      this protocol are supported.  Ymodem uses 1024 bytes per packet
      vs. 128 bytes per packet in Xmodem.  During transmission of a
      file with Ymodem, if more than 5 errors are encountered, the
      transmission will fallback to normal length blocks.  This saves
      time, because of the high overhead encountered with Ymodem re-
      transmission of error blocks.

 17.  Ymodem-G protocol.  This protocol is supported in batch format.
      It is a full streaming protocol, and is extremely fast,
      especially when used with the newer high speed modems.

 18.  Telink/CRC batch file transfer protocol.

 19.  The exclusive GT POWER protocol, 1k Telink, which combines the
      batch capabilities of Telink with the efficiency of Ymodem's 1k
      block length.

 20.  The exclusive GT POWER protocol, MegaLink, which combines the
      latest 32 bit CRC technology with a full-flow batch protocol.
      This protocol is among the most efficient and reliable of
      protocols.

      And the Super MegaLink protocol --- designed to be used  with the
      newer high speed modems: v.32, v.32bis, v.fast, etc.  The Super
      MegaLink protocol combines improved reliability with the highest
      efficiency.

 21.  SEAlink file transfer protocol is supported.  This protocol is
      extremely efficient and ideal for use with such BBS systems as
      OPUS.

 22.  Eighteen slots for external protocols to be added by the user. GT
      POWER comes with several of these slots pre-setup: Zmodem, Kermit,
      Jmodem, and BiModem.  These can be easily changed or added to by
      modifying the External Protocol Table in the GT POWER configuration.

 23.  DOS Shell.  Exit to DOS then return, GT POWER stays in the
      background.  GT POWER leaves only a small stub resident in memory,
      so that the maximum amount of memory is available for external
      program usage.

 24.  An extensive, interactive, script language, to automate many
      repetitive tasks.

 25.  Optional LOG file.  Keeps a complete record of your calls.  With
      detailed logging as an additional option.

 26.  Advanced "call progress" detection.  Detects BUSY, VOICE, NO DIAL
      TONE and more,  with modems that support extended result codes,
      such as the USRobotics Courier 2400 Modem.  Multiple result code
      entries can be entered so that more than one modem type can be
      easily supported.  For example, the result codes for Racal-Vadic
      and Hayes modems could be simultaneously recognized.

 27.  Smart modem result code handling.  Automatically detects the
      usage of MNP, baud rate and connection, even if the modem result
      code table is incomplete or inaccurate.  This eases the setup
      procedure for many modems!  Verbose modem result codes must be
      used to take advantage of this feature.

 28.  Use of the environment variable, GTPATH, to simplify use of the
      program on a hard disk.

 29.  On-screen clock, so there is no need for a memory resident clock
      program.

 30.  Host mode.  Allows the user to setup a system to accept incoming
      calls.  If you have ever wanted to become a sysop, there is no
      need to buy a separate BBS program!  GT POWER includes a powerful
      BBS package.  Complete security is incorporated into the host. The
      host mode also includes a powerful message system and files
      database.  A flexible ring-back procedure if provided to enable
      sharing of a data line with voice requirements.

      The Host mode contains a flexible "mailbox system", in addition to
      the message system.  The "mailbox system" allows the system to
      provide completely private exchange of messages and files.
      Security was paramount in the design of the "mailbox system".

 31.  Support for the non-standard COM ports: 3 through 8.

 32.  Support for non-standard IRQ assignments for the COM port.  Up to
      IRQ 15 on 286/386/486/Pentium computers.

 33.  For those with limited disk space, a terminal only version of
      GT POWER is distributed.  This version is referred to as GTO, for
      GTerminal Only.  It saves more than 100k of disk space when
      compared with the full GT POWER version.

 34.  With non-batch protocols, such as Xmodem, WXmodem and Ymodem,
      GT POWER will scan the screen for the filename indicated to the
      BBS.  This can save double typing of the filename.  A very handy
      feature.  To make complete use of this feature, you should set
      the default protocol for each BBS to be one of the protocols
      listed above.

 35.  Support for Zmodem auto-download.   This means that during
      terminal mode operation, the program will trap out the Zmodem
      signature coming from the host and automatically drop into the
      ZMRX.BAT file whenever detected.

      Support for HS/Link auto-download.  As described above for Zmodem
      the program will automatically drop into the HSRX.BAT file
      whenever the HS/Link signature is detected.

 36.  Support for 43 line mode on EGA systems and 50 line mode on
      VGA systems.

 37.  Support for DESQview - an excellent multitasking operating
      environment by Quarterdeck Office Systems.  GT POWER will give-up
      unused time to DESQview and will write directly to the DESQview
      video buffer - for fast screen updates!

      GT POWER also supports MS-Windows and OS/2.  While GT POWER runs
      as a DOS application under these operating systems, it will return
      unused time to be used by other tasks.

 38.  Scrollback buffer. The scrollback buffer can be configured from
      1 to 400 lines.  Allows easy review of previous text without the
      capture buffer being used.  ANSI graphics are fully supported.

 39.  GT POWER NetMail.  This is a very inexpensive way to communicate
      with your fellow GT POWER users.  Most GT POWER host systems
      participate in the network, which stretches from Australia thru
      the US and Canada to the United Kingdom and Germany.  NOTE: The
      GT POWER NetMail programs are not shareware.  They are provided
      at no extra cost to users who register GT POWER.  An extra
      incentive to register GT POWER!

 40.  GT POWER is a shareware product.  This means that it is provided
      at little or no cost to the end user for an evaluation.  If the
      user decides to continue using GT POWER past a reasonable
      evaluation period, then the user is expected to submit the
      requested donation.  In this spirit, GT POWER has incorporated
      within it a "usage  counter",  for each usage the program will
      delay startup for an additional 1/30th of a second.  This delay
      has a maximum value of 120 seconds.  If the user decides to
      register GT POWER, then the user will receive a key, which
      bypasses the delay and allows the user to enter the program much
      more quickly.

NOTE: As noted above, while GT will become freeware (but NOT open source),
Tom has not yet decided on the method of "registration" for those to get
the GT Netmail programs...these will still be distributed separately.

Also, to run doors, one had to have a third party utility to convert the
GTUSER.BBS file to DORINFO1.DEF, DOOR.SYS, CHAIN.TXT, etc. A freeware
program called DoorWorks, does just that. I'm not sure what Tom will do
with GT on that...as he plans to integrate several features of these other
3rd party programs into GT itself...a lot of work to be sure!! In fact, I'm
setting up the files and directories for the program, once it's released.
GT allowed up to 999 doors...and a bunch of other neat features that the
host mode did, that I didn't cover here.

Daryl


... Computer Hacker wanted. Must have own axe.
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