• How to type square brackets? Informer 207 VT100 IBM Terminal

    From AB@21:1/5 to All on Wed May 22 08:18:29 2019
    Hello folks, I have a great condition INFORMER 207 VT100 terminal which works nicely via RS232 @ 9600.. except I am limited by not knowing how to enter certain characters, for example square brackets, control characters (control-c and z is pretty
    important to me!)

    Anyone ever encountered this device before? Clearly this machine had IBM connectivity in mind but as it prints [square brackets] there surely must be a way for me to enter them? :-)
    cheers
    andy

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  • From Richard@21:1/5 to All on Sat May 25 19:56:01 2019
    [Please do not mail me a copy of your followup]

    AB <lordhailsham@gmail.com> spake the secret code <41e17d04-5d4e-4ab0-8956-c16dcdea3bff@googlegroups.com> thusly:

    Hello folks, I have a great condition INFORMER 207 VT100 terminal which
    works nicely via RS232 @ 9600.. except I am limited by not knowing how
    to enter certain characters, for example square brackets, control
    characters (control-c and z is pretty important to me!)

    Another idea: if you disassemble it, you might be able to identify hwo
    the keyboard is processed into characters and identify a combination
    of switches that can be pressed to generate the necessary character
    code.

    Given this keyboard's number of special keys, it's unlikely they're
    generating ASCII codes straight from the keyboard but rather a
    scancode instead that's processed into a character code for the
    transmit line.
    --
    "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" free book <http://tinyurl.com/d3d-pipeline>
    The Terminals Wiki <http://terminals-wiki.org>
    The Computer Graphics Museum <http://computergraphicsmuseum.org>
    Legalize Adulthood! (my blog) <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

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  • From Richard@21:1/5 to All on Sat May 25 19:50:58 2019
    [Please do not mail me a copy of your followup]

    AB <lordhailsham@gmail.com> spake the secret code <41e17d04-5d4e-4ab0-8956-c16dcdea3bff@googlegroups.com> thusly:

    Hello folks, I have a great condition INFORMER 207 VT100 terminal which
    works nicely via RS232 @ 9600.. except I am limited by not knowing how
    to enter certain characters, for example square brackets, control
    characters (control-c and z is pretty important to me!)

    I'm assuming you didn't get a manual for it?

    Anyone ever encountered this device before?

    I've only ever seen it listed on ebay. I have an informer in the
    collection (top shelf, right <http://computergraphicsmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/wall-12.jpg>)
    but I haven't done anything with it yet.

    Clearly this machine had
    IBM connectivity in mind but as it prints [square brackets] there surely
    must be a way for me to enter them? :-)

    Have you tried using the Alt key in combination with the {} key?
    --
    "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" free book <http://tinyurl.com/d3d-pipeline>
    The Terminals Wiki <http://terminals-wiki.org>
    The Computer Graphics Museum <http://computergraphicsmuseum.org>
    Legalize Adulthood! (my blog) <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

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  • From AB@21:1/5 to Richard on Tue May 28 07:53:57 2019
    Hi Richard- regarding figuring out the coding/scancodes etc? I'm 'fraid that would be way outside my skillset :-)

    cheers

    On Saturday, May 25, 2019 at 3:56:01 PM UTC-4, Richard wrote:
    [Please do not mail me a copy of your followup]

    AB <lordhailsham@gmail.com> spake the secret code <41e17d04-5d4e-4ab0-8956-c16dcdea3bff@googlegroups.com> thusly:

    Hello folks, I have a great condition INFORMER 207 VT100 terminal which >works nicely via RS232 @ 9600.. except I am limited by not knowing how
    to enter certain characters, for example square brackets, control >characters (control-c and z is pretty important to me!)

    Another idea: if you disassemble it, you might be able to identify hwo
    the keyboard is processed into characters and identify a combination
    of switches that can be pressed to generate the necessary character
    code.

    Given this keyboard's number of special keys, it's unlikely they're generating ASCII codes straight from the keyboard but rather a
    scancode instead that's processed into a character code for the
    transmit line.
    --
    "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" free book <http://tinyurl.com/d3d-pipeline>
    The Terminals Wiki <http://terminals-wiki.org>
    The Computer Graphics Museum <http://computergraphicsmuseum.org>
    Legalize Adulthood! (my blog) <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From AB@21:1/5 to Richard on Tue May 28 07:52:24 2019
    On Saturday, May 25, 2019 at 3:50:59 PM UTC-4, Richard wrote:
    [Please do not mail me a copy of your followup]

    AB <lordhailsham@gmail.com> spake the secret code <41e17d04-5d4e-4ab0-8956-c16dcdea3bff@googlegroups.com> thusly:

    Hello folks, I have a great condition INFORMER 207 VT100 terminal which >works nicely via RS232 @ 9600.. except I am limited by not knowing how
    to enter certain characters, for example square brackets, control >characters (control-c and z is pretty important to me!)

    I'm assuming you didn't get a manual for it?

    Anyone ever encountered this device before?

    I've only ever seen it listed on ebay. I have an informer in the
    collection (top shelf, right <http://computergraphicsmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/wall-12.jpg>) but I haven't done anything with it yet.

    Clearly this machine had
    IBM connectivity in mind but as it prints [square brackets] there surely >must be a way for me to enter them? :-)

    Have you tried using the Alt key in combination with the {} key?
    --
    "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" free book <http://tinyurl.com/d3d-pipeline>
    The Terminals Wiki <http://terminals-wiki.org>
    The Computer Graphics Museum <http://computergraphicsmuseum.org>
    Legalize Adulthood! (my blog) <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

    Hi Richard - sadly no manual... nor any trace of a manual online!
    I did try everything imaginable with the ALT key.. but no joy finding a way to do an ESC or [] sequence or a CTL-C which would be quite useful.

    If you make any progress with the INformer in your collection do let me know :-)
    cheers
    Andy

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  • From Richard@21:1/5 to All on Tue May 28 15:18:43 2019
    [Please do not mail me a copy of your followup]

    AB <lordhailsham@gmail.com> spake the secret code <e3089616-5f70-45eb-b98c-09a904b345be@googlegroups.com> thusly:

    Hi Richard - sadly no manual... nor any trace of a manual online!

    Yes, unfortunately no manual has been found yet. Whenever I find new
    manuals online, I link them into manx and then link manx into the
    terminals wiki.

    I did try everything imaginable with the ALT key.. but no joy finding a
    way to do an ESC or [] sequence or a CTL-C which would be quite useful.

    Bummer! I haven't done anything with this terminal since I got it, so obviously I didn't even notice the lack of control or other characters
    on the keyboard!

    If you make any progress with the INformer in your collection do let
    me know :-)

    It now becomes an interesting teardown project :-), so it moved up
    higher on the list of things to attack when I have some time. Mine
    might not be the exact model as yours; Informer made a bunch of model
    variants.

    I'll try to remember to post back here if I learn something. If I do
    learn anything more, it will definitely go on the wiki.
    --
    "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" free book <http://tinyurl.com/d3d-pipeline>
    The Terminals Wiki <http://terminals-wiki.org>
    The Computer Graphics Museum <http://computergraphicsmuseum.org>
    Legalize Adulthood! (my blog) <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

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  • From AB@21:1/5 to Richard on Wed Jun 5 17:13:07 2019
    On Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at 11:18:44 AM UTC-4, Richard wrote:
    [Please do not mail me a copy of your followup]

    AB <lordhailsham@gmail.com> spake the secret code <e3089616-5f70-45eb-b98c-09a904b345be@googlegroups.com> thusly:

    Hi Richard - sadly no manual... nor any trace of a manual online!

    Yes, unfortunately no manual has been found yet. Whenever I find new
    manuals online, I link them into manx and then link manx into the
    terminals wiki.

    I did try everything imaginable with the ALT key.. but no joy finding a
    way to do an ESC or [] sequence or a CTL-C which would be quite useful.

    Bummer! I haven't done anything with this terminal since I got it, so obviously I didn't even notice the lack of control or other characters
    on the keyboard!

    If you make any progress with the INformer in your collection do let
    me know :-)

    It now becomes an interesting teardown project :-), so it moved up
    higher on the list of things to attack when I have some time. Mine
    might not be the exact model as yours; Informer made a bunch of model variants.

    I'll try to remember to post back here if I learn something. If I do
    learn anything more, it will definitely go on the wiki.
    --
    "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" free book <http://tinyurl.com/d3d-pipeline>
    The Terminals Wiki <http://terminals-wiki.org>
    The Computer Graphics Museum <http://computergraphicsmuseum.org>
    Legalize Adulthood! (my blog) <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

    thanks Richard!
    Andy

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  • From tom@tomseago.com@21:1/5 to All on Mon Jul 8 17:25:08 2019
    I have also just purchased one of these from eBay in a "not working but hopefully fixable" condition. About the only thing close to a manual I've found online is this link for a slightly different product, but presumably something that might have some
    strong similarities, including using the "ALT" key essentially as CTRL.

    This might add a little more knowledge at least.

    https://www.jefftk.com/informer-213-ae-manual.pdf

    t'

    On Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at 5:13:08 PM UTC-7, AB wrote:
    On Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at 11:18:44 AM UTC-4, Richard wrote:
    [Please do not mail me a copy of your followup]

    AB <lordhailsham@gmail.com> spake the secret code <e3089616-5f70-45eb-b98c-09a904b345be@googlegroups.com> thusly:

    Hi Richard - sadly no manual... nor any trace of a manual online!

    Yes, unfortunately no manual has been found yet. Whenever I find new manuals online, I link them into manx and then link manx into the
    terminals wiki.

    I did try everything imaginable with the ALT key.. but no joy finding a >way to do an ESC or [] sequence or a CTL-C which would be quite useful.

    Bummer! I haven't done anything with this terminal since I got it, so obviously I didn't even notice the lack of control or other characters
    on the keyboard!

    If you make any progress with the INformer in your collection do let
    me know :-)

    It now becomes an interesting teardown project :-), so it moved up
    higher on the list of things to attack when I have some time. Mine
    might not be the exact model as yours; Informer made a bunch of model variants.

    I'll try to remember to post back here if I learn something. If I do
    learn anything more, it will definitely go on the wiki.
    --
    "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" free book <http://tinyurl.com/d3d-pipeline>
    The Terminals Wiki <http://terminals-wiki.org>
    The Computer Graphics Museum <http://computergraphicsmuseum.org>
    Legalize Adulthood! (my blog) <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

    thanks Richard!
    Andy

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  • From tom@tomseago.com@21:1/5 to All on Mon Jul 8 17:37:39 2019
    On Monday, July 8, 2019 at 5:31:53 PM UTC-7, AB wrote:
    Fantastic! thanks :-)

    Oh and one more gem - an actual “pocket reference” that might be even more useful!

    https://web.archive.org/web/20150910080503/http://www.employees.org/~kirk/doc/informer.pdf

    I kind of can’t wait to get my hands on this thing and I sure hope it’s restorable. Because who can read at anything faster than 9600 baud anyway?

    t’

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  • From AB@21:1/5 to All on Mon Jul 8 17:31:53 2019
    Fantastic! thanks :-)

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  • From AB@21:1/5 to All on Tue Jul 9 04:55:44 2019
    Tom you must have advanced google skills or something! Great finds :-)

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