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PLATOTerm 1.1 Lite for Atari 8-bit Computers
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@tschak909 tschak909 released this 18 Dec 19:25
· 42 commits to master since this release
PLATOTERM-ATARI-LITE-1.1
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PLATOTerm Lite Version 1.1

About The Atari Lite Release

This is a special version of PLATOTerm, that has been re-organized to fit the code within approximately 16K of space, so that it can be fit onto a cartridge, or with other programs on a disk.

In order to do this, preferences was eliminated completely, and 1200 baud is the only data rate supported. But the upside is, you can flash this onto a cartridge.

Like the larger version, PLATOTerm requires a loaded R: handler. The cartridges are configured to load the DOS first, before jumping into the main program, so any handlers you wish to run, you should be sure they are loaded first (e.g with AUTORUN.SYS).

Since devices like the Atari 850 can autoboot their handler if no disk drive is present, they will also work with the cartridge version. Just be sure that the 850 interface is switched on, before poweron.

R-Verter users must ensure their handler is loaded, before starting PLATOTerm.

The only available hotkeys are:

  • SELECT-T to switch to TTY mode.
  • SELECT-P to switch to PLATO mode.
  • SELECT-X will exit the cartridge to DOS.
  • SELECT-RETURN to send a carriage return and a line feed.

Versions available:

There are file and cartridge versions available for the following touch devices:

  • Amiga mouse
  • standard Joystick
  • Koala/Atari Touch Tablet
  • Atari Trak-Ball
  • Atari ST mouse

What is PLATOTerm?

PLATOTerm is a terminal emulator to access CYBIS services now available
on the Internet utilizing a WIFI Modem, or (soon!) an Ethernet device
supported by a Crynwr Packet Driver.

For the purposes of this documentation. PLATO and CYBIS are interchangeable
names for the same platform.

What services are currently available to access via PLATOTerm?

As of writing this preliminary documentation (October 2018), there are
two major CYBIS systems running. CYBER1.ORG and IRATA.ONLINE.

WHAT IS PLATO? (aka CYBIS?)

(from the PLATO wikipedia page:)

PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations), was the first
generalized computer-asisted instruction system. Starting in 1960, it ran
on the University of Illinois ILLIAC I computer. By the late 1970s, it
supported several thousand graphics terminals distributed worldwide, running
on nearly a dozen different networked mainframe computers. Many modern
concepts in multi-user computing were originally developed on PLATO, including
forums, message boards, online testing, e-mail, chat rooms, picture languages,
instant messaging, remote screen sharing, and multi-player games.

What is CYBER1.ORG?

CYBER1.ORG is a CYBIS system initially set up in 2004, as a haven for
ex-PLATO users to experience a classic PLATO author experience.

CYBER1.ORG is home to many thousands of classic PLATO lessons and
notesfiles which have been restored from various sources, and have
been made available in the interests of preserving PLATO.

What is IRATA.ONLINE?

IRATA.ONLINE is a CYBIS system that has been set up for the benefit of
the greater vintage computing community, in the interest to provide
a unique experience that can be accessed on a wide variety of
vintage computers with a bitmapped graphics display. To this end,
IRATA.ONLINE develops PLATOTerm for dozens of platforms, so that they
can access CYBIS systems, as well as provide a community and learning
infrastructure for vintage computing users of all types, in the hopes
that as a cohesive community, something unique can hopefully
emerge.

What is the connection between IRATA.ONLINE and CYBER1.ORG?

CYBER1.ORG and IRATA.ONLINE are independent of one another. With that said,
the reason IRATA.ONLINE and PLATOTerm exist, are because of the efforts of
CYBER1.ORG to not only preserve a running PLATO system, and provide the
necessary information for interested parties to write terminal software
to access CYBIS systems, but also in their effort to produce a publically
available distribution of CYBIS that others who are interested may also
run their own CYBIS installation. IRATA.ONLINE is a direct result of the
public release of this distribution.

Connecting to IRATA.ONLINE

Once PLATOTerm is started, you can connect to CYBER1.ORG using your WIFI modem,
using a command such as:

ATDTIRATA.ONLINE:8005

Connecting to CYBER1.ORG

Once PLATOTerm is started, you can connect to CYBER1.ORG using your WIFI modem,
using a command such as:

ATDTCYBERSERV.ORG:8005

PLATO Keyboard

The PLATO keyboard is mapped to the Atari keys, like so:

PLATO KEY Atari Key
ANS CTRL-A
BACK CTRL-B
SHIFT-BACK CTRL- + (left arrow)
COPY CTRL-C
SHIFT-COPY CTRL- - (up arrow)
DATA CTRL-D
SHIFT-DATA SHIFT-CTRL-D
EDIT CTRL-E
SHIFT-EDIT SHIFT-CTRL-E
FONT CTRL-F
÷ CTRL-G
HELP CTRL-I
SHIFT-HELP SHIFT CTRL-H
LAB CTRL-L
SHIFT-LAB CTRL-= (down arrow)
SUPER CTRL-P
SHIFT-SUPER SHIFT CTRL-P
SQUARE CTRL-Q
ACCESS SHIFT CTRL-Q
STOP CTRL-S
SHIFT-STOP SHIFT CTRL-S
TERM CTRL-T
× CTRL-X
SUB CTRL-Y
SHIFT-SUB SHIFT CTRL-Y
CR and LF Select RETURN

Pressing the function keys will cycle through all possible color values.

Credits

  • '''Thomas Cherryhomes''' - Terminal coding, sleepless nights.
  • '''Steve Peltz''' - original PAD protocol decoder from MacPAD.
  • '''Christian Groessler''' - multiply funcs for Atari, lots of testing
  • '''Jon Halliday''' - Fast text output routines for Atari
  • '''Ron Klein''' - Testing, testing, and more testing
    ' '''Sijmen Schouten''' - Testing, testing, and more testing.
  • '''Michael Sternberg''' - Apple2 testing, showing off at Kansasfest 2018
  • '''The.Doctor''' - Help tuning XON/XOFF parameters.
  • '''John Buell''' - Testing
  • '''John Manterola''' - Testing
  • '''Jasmaz''' - Commodore 64 testing
  • '''Paul Rickards''' - Commodore 64 testing
  • '''Glenn Wiorek''' - Commodore 64 testing.
  • '''Rory McMahon''' - Testing
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