! -*-Text-*- ! This file is in HLPR20 format ! Lines starting w/ "!" are ignored. ! Lines starting w/ "*" are topic headers. PHONE is a TOPS-20 utility for real-time communication between users. Users on a remote DECnet node may be contacted provided that both the local and remote nodes run PHNSRV (the PHONE server). *Off-Hook A user who does not wish to be notified by callers may take his terminal "off the hook" on a 6.0 or later system by setting "TERMINAL INHIBIT (NON-JOB OUTPUT)" or "REFUSE USER-MESSAGES". On an earlier system this can be done by setting "REFUSE LINKS" *Ownership Because of the nature of the PHONE protocol, only one job logged in under a given username may use PHONE on a given system. *ANSWER The ANSWER command is used to answer the phone when someone is calling you. If someone calls you when you are not currently using the PHONE facility, a message will be sent to your terminal. If you are using PHONE, the message will appear on your screen in PHONE's standard message line. You can do one of three things when your phone rings: o Ignore the call. o ANSWER the phone, establishing a conversation with the caller. o REJECT the call. *BLANK The BLANK command clears, and redraws the screen. *DIAL The DIAL command is used to place a call to another person. DIAL (user) ! local, no DECnet ! DIAL (user) @ ! using DECnet ! When you enter this command, PHONE tries to ring the person's phone. If successful, it will continue to ring every 10 seconds until one of the following happens: o The person answers the phone. o The person rejects the call. o You type any character at your keyboard. This action cancels the call immediately. *DIRECTORY The DIRECTORY command allows you to obtain a list of those people with whom you could talk on your system or any other system in a network. The complete syntax of the DIRECTORY command is: DIRECTORY (of users) ! on a system w/ no DECnet ! DIRECTORY (of users on) ! on a system with DECnet ! The following information is displayed about each person: o Their "process" and user names. o Whether or not their terminal can be used as a telephone. o Whether or not they are currently using PHONE. The directory is displayed, line by line, on your terminal until the entire list is displayed or until you type any key on the keyboard. *FACSIMILE The FACSIMILE command allows you to include the contents of a file into your conversation. It requires a file specification, and proceeds to send the contents of that file to everyone in the conversation. Thus the complete syntax is: FACSIMILE (of file) PHONE continues to send the file until it reaches end of file or until you type any key at your keyboard. *HANGUP The HANGUP command is used to hang up your own phone. This disconnects the link to anyone you are currently talking to, or anyone you are currently talking to that has you on hold. *HELP The HELP command allows you to obtain information about the PHONE utility. HELP is provided via the HLPR20 subroutine package. HELP topic or HELP *HOLD This command allows you to put people on hold. When you enter the command, everyone you are currently talking to (including anyone who has you on hold) is placed on hold. Each such person is informed of the fact that they have been placed on hold. *MAIL The MAIL command is useful when you cannot reach someone and would like to let them know that you called. *REJECT The REJECT command is used to reject a phone call from another person. The person is informed that you do not want to talk to them right now. *Switch-hook The switch hook character (%) is used to enter command mode. Normally, all text typed is considered part of the conversation. However, when you type a switch hook, all characters up to the next carriage return are treated as a command. The switch hook character is always displayed on line 1, next to the date. There is currently no way to change the switch hook character, or to send it in a conversation. *UNHOLD The UNHOLD command enables you to reverse the previous HOLD command. People you are currently talking to are informed that you have hung up on them, and the people you previously put on hold are brought off of hold. *PUSH *** STUFF *** *STATUS *** STUFF *** *EXIT *** STUFF *** *Characters The following table describes all of the special characters accepted by PHONE in converation mode. CHARACTER ACTION IN A CONVERSATION delete delete previous character line feed delete previous word return start new line in viewport tab tab to next tab stop, using spaces CTRL/G ring the bell CTRL/Q negate a CTRL/S (depending on TERMINAL PAGE setting) CTRL/S freeze the screen CTRL/U clear current viewport line CTRL/W equivalen to