C-Kermit 5A(190) is Copyright (C) 1985, 1994 by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York. The C-Kermit software may not be, in whole or in part, licensed or sold for profit as a software product itself, nor may it be included in or distributed with commercial products or otherwise distributed by commercial concerns to their clients or customers without written permission of the Office of Kermit Development and Distribution, Columbia University. This copyright notice must not be removed, altered, or obscured.
C-Kermit is thoroughly documented in the book Using C-Kermit by Frank da Cruz and Christine M. Gianone, Digital Press, 1993; see REFERENCES at the end of this manual page. New features added since the book was published are documented in the online file ckcker.upd". Hints, tips, limitations, restrictions are listed in ckcker.bwr (general C-Kermit) and ckuker.bwr (UNIX-specific); see FILES below. Please consult all of these references before reporting problems or asking for technical support.
Kermit software is available for hundreds of different computers and operating systems from Columbia University. For best file-transfer results, please use C-Kermit in conjunction with real Columbia University Kermit software on other computers, such as MS-DOS Kermit for DOS or Windows. See CONTACTS below.
In local mode", C-Kermit establishes a connection to another computer by direct serial connection, by dialing a modem, or by making a network connection. When used in local mode, C-Kermit gives you a terminal connection to the remote computer, using your actual terminal, emulator, or UNIX workstation terminal window or console driver for specific terminal emulation.
C-Kermit also has two types of commands: the familiar UNIX-style command-line options, and an interactive dialog with a prompt. Command-line options give you access to a small but useful subset of C-Kermit's features for terminal connection and file transfer, plus the ability to pipe files into or out of Kermit for transfer.
Interactive commands give you access to dialing, script programming, character-set translation, and, in general, detailed control and display of all C-Kermit's features. Interactive commands can also be collected into command files or macros.
C-Kermit should be available as "kermit" somewhere in your PATH, perhaps as /usr/local/bin/kermit, in which case you can start C-Kermit just by typing "kermit", possibly followed by command-line options. If there are no "action options" on the command line (explained below), C-Kermit starts in interactive command mode; you will see a greeting message and then the "C-Kermit>" prompt. If you do include action options on the command line, C-Kermit takes the indicated actions and then exits directly back to UNIX. Either way, C-Kermit executes the commands in its initialization file, .kermrc, in your home directory (or a system-wide directory if C-Kermit was built to do this) before it executes any other commands, unless you have included the ` \c -Y\c ' (uppercase) command-line option, which means to skip the initialization file, or you have included the ` \c -y filename\c ' option to specify an alternative initialization file.
Here is the most common scenario for Kermit file transfer. Many other methods are possible, most of them more convenient, but this basic method should work in all cases.
¤ Start Kermit on your local computer and establish a connection to the remote computer. If C-Kermit is on your local computer, use the sequence SET MODEM modem-name\c , SET LINE device-name\c , SET SPEED bits-per-second\c , and DIAL phone-number if you are dialing; SET LINE and SPEED for direct connections; SET NETWORK network-type and SET HOST host-name-or-address for network connections. ¤ SET any other necessary communication parameters, such as PARITY, DUPLEX, and FLOW-CONTROL. ¤ Give the CONNECT command. ¤ Log in to the remote computer. ¤ Start Kermit on the remote computer, give it any desired SET commands for file-, communication-, or protocol-related parameters. If you will be transferring binary files, give the command SET FILE TYPE BINARY to the remote Kermit program. ¤ To download a file or file group, give the remote Kermit a SEND command, following by a filename or "wildcard" file specification, for example:
send oofa.txt (send one file)or:
send oofa.* (send a group of files)To upload a file or files, give the remote Kermit a RECEIVE command. The sending Kermit will tell the receiving Kermit the name (and other attributes) of each file. ¤ Escape back to the Kermit program on your local (desktop) computer. If your local computer is running C-Kermit, type Ctrl-\ c (Control-backslash followed by the letter 'c') (on NeXT workstations, use Ctrl-] c). If MS-DOS or OS/2 Kermit, use Alt-x (hold down the Alt key, press 'x'). Now you should see your local Kermit program's prompt. ¤ If you will be transferring binary files, give the command SET FILE TYPE BINARY to your local Kermit program. ¤ If you are downloading files, tell the local Kermit program to RECEIVE. If you are uploading", give your local Kermit program a SEND command, specifying a filename or wildcard file specification. In other words, tell the remote Kermit program what to do first, SEND or RECEIVE, then escape back to the local Kermit and give it the opposite command, RECEIVE or SEND. ¤ When you finish transferring files, give a CONNECT command. Now you are talking to Kermit on the remote computer again. Type EXIT to get back to the command prompt on the remote computer. When you are finished using the remote computer, log out and then (if necessary) escape back to Kermit on your local computer. Then you can make another connection or EXIT from the local Kermit program.
C-Kermit's file transfer protocol defaults are deliberately conservative, resulting in file transfer that almost always works, but might be somewhat slow. To increase file transfer performance on computers and connections that permit it, use SET RECEIVE PACKET-LENGTH to increase the packet length, SET WINDOW to increase the window size, and use SET CONTROL UNPREFIX to reduce the overhead of control-character prefixing. On serial connections, use hardware flow control (SET FLOW RTS/CTS) if available, rather than software (XON/XOFF) flow control. On TCP/IP connections, SET FLOW NONE. For details, read Chapter 8 of Using C-Kermit and see the section on control-character unprefixing in the ckcker.upd file.
C-Kermit has extensive built-in help. You can find out what commands exist by typing ? at the C-Kermit> prompt. You can type HELP at the C-Kermit> prompt for "getting-started" message, or HELP followed by the name of a particular command for information about that command, for example:
help sendor:
help set fileYou can type ? anywhere within a command to get brief help about the current command field. You can also type the INTRO command to get a brief introduction to C-Kermit, and the NEWS command to find out what's new in your version. Finally, you can use the BUG command to learn how to report bugs.
Delete, Backspace, or Rubout erases the rightmost character. Ctrl-W erases the rightmost "word". Ctrl-U erases the current command line. Ctrl-R redisplays the current command. Ctrl-P recalls a previous command (scrolls back in command buffer). Ctrl-N scrolls forward in a scrolled-back command buffer. Ctrl-C cancels the current command. Tab, Esc, or Ctrl-I tries to complete the current keyword or filename. ? gives help about the current field.To enter the command and make it execute, press the Return or Enter key.
% A user-defined simple (scalar) variable such as \%a or \%1
& an array reference such as \a[3]
$ an environment variable such as \$(TERM)
v (or V) a built-in variable such as \v(time)
f (or F) a function such as \Fsubstring(\%a,3,2)
d (or D) a decimal (base 10) number (1 to 3 digits, 0..255) such as \d27
o (or O) an octal (base 8) number (1 to 3 digits, 0..377) such as \o33
x (or X) a hexadecimal (base 16) number (2 digits, 00..ff) like \x1b
\ the backslash character itself
b (or B) the BREAK signal (OUTPUT command only)
l (or L) a Long BREAK signal (OUTPUT only)
a decimal digit (a 1-3 digit decimal number) such as \27
{} used for grouping, e.g. \{27}123
anything else: following character taken literally.
Note that numbers turn into the character with that binary code (0-255), so
you can use \7 for a bell, \13 for carriage return, \10 for linefeed.
For example, to have C-Kermit send a BELL to your screen, type:
echo \7
The commands most commonly used, and important for beginners to know, are marked with "*":
Program Management:
BUG Learn how to report bugs.
CHECK See if a particular feature is configured.
CLOSE Close a log or other local file.
COMMENT Introduce a full-line comment.
* EXIT Leave the program, return to UNIX.
* HELP Display a help message for a given command.
* INTRO Print a brief introduction to C-Kermit.
LOG Open a log file -- debugging, packet, session, transaction.
PUSH Invoke local system's interactive command interpreter.
QUIT Synonym for EXIT.
REDIRECT Redirect standard i/o of command to communication device.
RUN Run a program or system command.
SET COMMAND Command-related parameters: bytesize, recall buffer size.
SET DEBUG Log or display debugging information.
SET EXIT Items related to C-Kermit's action upon exit.
SET PROMPT The C-Kermit program's interactive command prompt.
SHOW EXIT Display SET EXIT parameters.
SHOW FEATURES Show features that C-Kermit was built with.
SHOW VERSIONS Show version numbers of each source module.
SUSPEND Suspend Kermit (use only if shell supports job control!).
* SHOW Display values of SET parameters.
* TAKE Execute commands from a file.
VERSION Display the C-Kermit program version number.
Z Synonym for SUSPEND.
Ctrl-C Interrupt a C-Kermit command in progress.
Ctrl-Z Synonym for SUSPEND.
; or # Introduce a full-line or trailing comment.
! or @ Synonym for RUN.
< Synonym for REDIRECT.
Connection Establishment and Release:
* DIAL Dial a telephone number.
* HANGUP Hang up the phone or network connection.
PAD Command for X.25 PAD.
PING Check status of remote TCP/IP host.
REDIAL The the most recently DIALed number again.
SET CARRIER Treatment of carrier on terminal connections.
* SET DIAL Parameters related to modem dialing.
* SET FLOW Communication line flow control: RTS/CTS, XON/XOFF, etc.
* SET HOST Specify remote network host name or address.
* SET LINE Specify serial communication device name, like /dev/cua.
* SET MODEM Specify type of modem on SET LINE device, like HAYES.
* SET NETWORK Network type, TCP/IP or X.25.
SET PAD X.25 X.3 PAD parameters.
* SET PARITY Character parity (none, even, etc) for communications.
* SET SPEED Serial communication device speed, e.g. 2400, 9600, 57600.
SET X.25 Specify X.25 connection parameters.
SHOW COMM Display all communications settings.
SHOW DIAL Display SET DIAL values.
SHOW MODEM Display modem type, signals, etc.
SHOW NETWORK Display network-related items.
* TELNET = SET NETWORK TCP/IP, SET HOST ..., CONNECT.
Terminal Connection:
* C Special abbreviation for CONNECT.
* CONNECT Establish a terminal connection to a remote computer.
SET COMMAND Bytesize between C-Kermit and your keyboard and screen.
* SET DUPLEX Specify which side echoes during CONNECT.
SET ESCAPE Prefix for "escape commands" during CONNECT.
SET KEY Key mapping and macros for use in CONNECT mode.
SET TERMINAL Terminal connection items: bytesize, character-set, echo, etc.
SHOW ESCAPE Display current CONNECT-mode escape character.
SHOW KEY Display keycode and assigned value or macro.
SHOW TERMINAL Display SET TERMINAL items.
* Ctrl-\ CONNECT-mode escape character, follow by another character:
C to return to C-Kermit> prompt.
B to send BREAK signal.
? to see other options.
File Transfer:
LOG SESSION Download a file with no error checking.
MSEND Multiple SEND - accepts a list of files, separated by spaces.
* RECEIVE Passively wait for files to arrive from other Kermit.
* R Special abbreviation for RECEIVE.
* SEND Send files.
* S Special abbreviation for SEND.
RESEND Continue a incomplete transmission.
PSEND Send part of a file.
SET ATTRIB Control transmission of file attributes.
* SET BLOCK Choose error-checking level, 1, 2, or 3.
SET BUFFERS Size of send and receive packet buffers.
SET CONTROL Which control characters to "unprefix" during file transfer.
SET DELAY How long to wait before sending first packet.
* SET FILE Transfer mode (type), character-set, collision action, etc.
* SET RECEIVE Parameters for inbound packets: packet-length, etc.
SET REPEAT Repeat-count compression parameters.
SET RETRY Packet retransmission limit.
SET SEND Parameters for outbound packets: length, etc.
SET HANDSHAKE Communication line half-duplex packet turnaround character.
SET LANGUAGE Enable language-specific character-set translations.
SET SESSION-LOG File type for session log, text or binary.
SET TRANSFER File transfer parameters: character-set, etc.
SET TRANSMIT Control aspects of TRANSMIT command execution.
SET UNKNOWN Specify handling of unknown character sets.
* SET WINDOW File transfer packet window size, 1-31.
SHOW ATTRIB Display SET ATTRIBUTE values.
SHOW CONTROL Display control-character prefixing map.
* SHOW FILE Display file-related settings.
SHOW PROTOCOL Display protocol-related settings.
SHOW LANGUAGE Display language-related settings.
SHOW TRANSMIT Display SET TRANSMIT values.
* STATISTICS Display statistics about most recent file transfer.
TRANSMIT Upload a file with no error checking.
XMIT Synonym for TRANSMIT.
File Management:
* CD Change Working Directory (also, CWD).
* DELETE Delete a file or files.
* DIRECTORY Display a directory listing.
MAIL Send a file to other Kermit, to be delivered as e-mail.
PRINT Print a local file on a local printer.
* PWD Display current working directory.
RENAME Change the name of a local file.
SPACE Display current disk space usage.
SHOW CHARACTER-SETS Display character-set translation info.
TRANSLATE Translate a local file's character set.
TYPE Display a file on the screen.
XLATE Synonym for TRANSLATE.
Client/Server operation:
BYE Terminate a remote Kermit server and log out its job.
DISABLE Disallow access to selected features during server operation:
E-PACKET Send an Error packet.
ENABLE Allow access to selected features during server operation.
FINISH Instruct a remote Kermit server to exit, but not log out.
G Special abbreviation for GET.
GET Get files from a remote Kermit server.
REMOTE CD Tell remote Kermit server to change its directory.
REMOTE DELETE Tell server to delete a file.
REMOTE DIRECTORY Ask server for a directory listing.
REMOTE HELP Ask server to send a help message.
REMOTE HOST Ask server to ask its host to execute a command.
REMOTE KERMIT Send an interactive Kermit command to the server.
REMOTE LOGIN Authenticate yourself to a remote Kermit server.
REMOTE LOGOUT Log out from a Kermit server previously LOGIN'd to.
REMOTE PRINT Print a local file on the server's printer.
REMOTE SET Send a SET command to a remote server.
REMOTE SPACE Ask server how much disk space it has left.
REMOTE TYPE Ask server to display a file on your screen.
REMOTE WHO Ask server for a "who" or "finger" listing.
SERVER Be a Kermit server.
SET SERVER Parameters for server operation.
SHOW SERVER Show SET SERVER, ENABLE/DISABLE items.
Script programming:
ASK Prompt the user, store user's reply in a variable.
ASKQ Like ASK, but, but doesn't echo (useful for passwords).
ASSIGN Assign an evaluated string to a variable or macro.
CLEAR Clear communication device input buffer.
CLOSE Close a log or other local file.
DECLARE Declare an array.
DECREMENT Subtract one (or other number) from a variable.
DEFINE Define a variable or macro.
DO Execute a macro ("DO" can be omitted).
ECHO Display text on the screen.
ELSE Used with IF.
END A command file or macro.
FOR Execute commands repeatedly in a counted loop.
GETC Issue a prompt, get one character from keyboard.
GETOK Ask question, get Yes or No answer, set SUCCESS or FAILURE.
GOTO Go to a labeled command in a command file or macro.
IF Conditionally execute the following command.
INCREMENT Add one (or other number) to a variable.
INPUT Match characters from another computer against a given text.
MINPUT Like INPUT, but allows several match strings.
MSLEEP Sleep for given number of milliseconds.
OPEN Open a local file for reading or writing.
O Special abbreviation for OUTPUT.
OUTPUT Send text to another computer.
PAUSE Do nothing for a given number of seconds.
READ Read a line from a local file into a variable.
REINPUT Reexamine text previously received from another computer.
RETURN Return from a user-defined function.
SCRIPT Execute a UUCP-style login script.
SET CASE Treatment of alphabetic case in string comparisons.
SET COUNT For counted loops.
SET INPUT Control behavior of INPUT command.
SET MACRO Control aspects of macro execution.
SET TAKE Control aspects of TAKE file execution.
SHOW ARGUMENTS Display arguments to current macro.
SHOW ARRAYS Display information about active arrays.
SHOW COUNT Display current COUNT value.
SHOW FUNCTIONS List names of available \f() functions.
SHOW GLOBALS List defined global variables \%a..\%z.
SHOW MACROS List one or more macro definitions.
SHOW SCRIPTS Show script-related settings.
SHOW VARIABLES Display values all \v() variables.
SLEEP Sleep for given number of seconds.
STOP Stop executing macro or command file, return to prompt.
WAIT Wait for the specified modem signals.
WHILE Execute commands repeatedly while a condition is true.
WRITE Write material to a local file.
WRITE-LINE Write a line (record) to a local file.
WRITELN Synonym for WRITE-LINE.
XIF Extended IF command.
\v(argc) number of arguments in current macro
\v(args) number of program command-line arguments
\v(cmdfile) name of current command file, if any
\v(cmdlevel) current command level
\v(cmdsource) where command are currently coming from, macro, file, etc.
\v(connection)connection type: serial, tcp/ip, etc.
\v(count) current COUNT value
\v(cps) speed of most recent file transfer in chars per second
\v(cpu) CPU type C-Kermit was built for
\v(date) date as 8 Feb 1993
\v(day) day of week
\v(directory) current/default directory
\v(dialstatus)return code from DIAL command (0 = OK, 22 = BUSY, etc)
\v(exitstatus)current EXIT status (0 = good, nonzero = something failed)
\v(filespec) filespec given in most recent SEND/RECEIVE/GET command
\v(fsize) size of file most recently transferred
\v(home) home directory
\v(host) computer host name
\v(input) current INPUT buffer contents
\v(inchar) character most recently INPUT
\v(incount) how many characters arrived during last INPUT
\v(line) current communications device, set by LINE or HOST
\v(local) 0 if in remote mode, 1 if in local mode
\v(macro) name of currently executing macro, if any
\v(ndate) Current date as 19930208 (yyyymmdd)
\v(nday) Numeric day of week (0 = Sunday)
\v(newline) System-independent newline character or sequence
\v(ntime) Current local time in seconds since midnight (noon = 43200)
\v(parity) Current parity setting
\v(platform) Specific machine and/or operating system
\v(program) Name of this program ("C-Kermit")
\v(return) Most recent RETURN value
\v(speed) Current speed, if known, or "unknown"
\v(status) 0 or 1 (SUCCESS or FAILURE of previous command)
\v(system) UNIX
\v(terminal) terminal type
\v(tfsize) total size of file group most recently transferred
\v(time) time as 13:45:23 (hh:mm:ss)
\v(ttyfd) file descriptor of current communication device
\v(version) numeric version of Kermit, e.g. 501190.
\Fcharacter(arg) convert numeric arg to character \Fcode(char) numeric code for character \Fcontents(v) return current definition of variable \Fdate(filename) return file's modification date/time \Fdefinition(m) return current definition of macro \Feval(expr) evaluate arithmetic expression \Fexecute(m a) execute macro "m" with parameters "a" \Ffiles(f) number of files matching file spec \Findex(a1,a2,a3) position of string a2 in a1, starting at pos a3 \Flength(arg) length of the string "arg" \Fliteral(arg) copy argument literally, no evaluation \Flower(arg) convert to lower case \Flpad(text,n,c) left pad text to length n with char c \Fmax(a1,a2) max of two numbers \Fmin(a1,a2) min of two numbers \Fnextfile() next file name from list in last \Ffiles \Frepeat(a1,a2) repeat a1 a2 times \Freplace(a1,a2,a3) replace a2 by a3 in a1 \Freverse(arg) reverse characters in arg \Fright(a1,a2) rightmost a2 characters of string a1 \Frpad(text,n,c) right pad text to length n with char c \Fsize(filename) return file's length in bytes \Fsubstr(a1,a2,a3) substring of a1, starts at a2, length a3 \Fupper(arg) convert to upper case\Feval() allows the following operators in the expression. The expression can contain variables. Only integer arithmetic is supported. Precedences are shown as numbers, 1 is highest precedence, 6 is lowest.
( ) 1 parentheses n ! 2 factorial ~ n 3 logical NOT - n 4 negative n ^ n 4 power n * n 5 multiplication n / n 5 division n % n 5 modulus n & n 5 logical AND n + n 6 plus n - n 6 minus n | n 6 logical OR n # n 6 exclusive OR n @ n 6 greatest common divisor
C-Kermit accepts commands (or "options") on the command line, in the time-honored UNIX style. Alphabetic case is significant. All options are optional. If one or more action options are included, Kermit exits immediately after executing the command-line options, otherwise it enters interactive command mode.
kermit [filename] [-x arg [-x arg]...[-yyy]..]] where: filename is the name of a command file to execute, -x is an option requiring an argument, -y an option with no argument. Actions: -s files send files -s - send files from stdin -r receive files -k receive files to stdout -x enter server mode -f finish remote server -g files get remote files from server (quote wildcards) -a name alternate file name, used with -s, -r, -g -c connect (before file transfer), used with -l or -j -n connect (after file transfer), used with -l or -j Settings: -l line communication line device (to make a serial connection) -l n open file descriptor of communication device -j host TCP/IP network host name (to make a network connection) -l n open file descriptor of TCP/IP connection -X X.25 network address -Z open file descriptor of X.25 connection -o n X.25 closed user group call info -u X.25 reverse-charge call -q quiet during file transfer -i transfer files in binary mode -b bps serial line speed, e.g. 1200 -m name modem type, e.g. hayes -p x parity, x = e,o,m,s, or n -t half duplex, xon handshake -e n receive packet-length -v n window size -w write over files of same name, don't backup old file -D n delay n seconds before sending a file Other: -y name alternate init file name -Y Skip init file -R Advise C-Kermit it will be used only in remote mode -d log debug info to file debug.log -S Stay, don't exit, after action command -C "cmds" Interactive-mode commands, comma-separated -z Force foreground operation -h print command-line option help screen = Ignore all text that follows Remote-mode example (C-Kermit is on the far end): kermit -v 4 -i -s oofa.binsends file oofa.bin in binary mode (-i) using a window size of 4 (-v 4). Local-mode example (C-Kermit makes the connection):
kermit -l /dev/tty01 -b 19200 -c -r -nmakes a 19200-bps direct connection out through /dev/tty01, CONNECTs (-c) so you can log in and, presumably start a remote Kermit program and tell it to send a file, then it RECEIVEs the file (-r), then it CONNECTs back (-n) so you can finish up and log out. For dialing out, you must specify a modem type, and you might have to use a different device name:
kermit -m hayes -l /dev/cua -b 2400 -c -r -n
$HOME/.kermrc Standard C-Kermit initialization commands. $HOME/.mykermrc Your personal C-Kermit customization file. $HOME/.kdd Your personal dialing directory. $HOME/.ksd Your personal services directory.
The following should be in a publicly accessible plain-text documentation area, such as usr/local/lib/kermit, /usr/local/doc, or /usr/share/lib/kermit, or available via an information server such as gopher:
ckaaaa.hlp Explanation of C-Kermit files. ckermit.ini Standard initialization file. ckermod.ini Sample C-Kermit customization file. ckermit.kdd Sample dialing directory. ckermit.ksd Sample services directory. ckcker.upd Supplement to "Using C-Kermit". ckcker.bwr C-Kermit "beware" file - hints & tips. ckuker.bwr UNIX-specific beware file. ckedemo.ini Demonstration macros from "Using C-Kermit". ckevt.ini Ditto. cketest.ini Ditto.
If C-Kermit has not been installed on your system with the system-wide initialization file feature, then the ckermit.ini file should be copied to your home (login) directory and renamed to .kermrc. You should not modify this file. To make personalized customizations, copy the file ckermod.ini file to your home directory, make any desired changes, and rename it to .mykermrc. You may also create a personalized dialing directory like the sample one in ckermit.kdd. Your personalized dialing directory should be stored in your home directory as .kdd. See Chapter 3 of Using C-Kermit for details. And you may also create a personalized services directory like the sample one in ckermit.ksd. Your personalized services directory should be stored in your home directory as .ksd. See Chapter 13 of Using C-Kermit for instructions. The demonstration files illustrate C-Kermit's script programming constructs; they are discussed in chapters 11-13 of the book. You can run them by typing the appropriate TAKE command at the C-Kermit> prompt, for example: "take /usr/share/lib/kermit/cketest.ini".
Kermit Development and Distribution Columbia University 612 West 115th Street New York, NY 10025-7221 USAOr send e-mail to kermit@columbia.edu. Or call +1 212 854-3703. Or fax +1 212 663-8202.