Basically, when you transfer a file to or from Athena, you do this:

  1. Dialup to Athena.
 1a. Type "term download" at the CPT prompt.
 1b. Type "athena" at the CPT prompt and login to one of the dialup
	machines.

  2. Startup kermit on the Athena end (type:  kermit).

  3. Startup the file transfer on the Athena end.
     a) if you are sending from Athena to your Mac/PC, type   
	"send filename" at the C-Kermit> prompt.
     b) if you are sending from your Mac/PC to Athena, type
	"receive" at the C-Kermit> prompt.

  4. Get back to your communications software on your Mac/PC.
     (The method to do this varies depending on what communications
     program you are using.  For many IBM-PC programs, you use one of
     the Function keys. For many Macintosh programs, you use a
     pull-down menu.)

  5. Start up the receive or send from your PC.
     a) if you are sending from Athena to your PC, type
	"receive"
     b) if you are sending from your PC to Athena, type
	"send filename"
     c) NOTES: some communications packages will use Function keys or
     pull-down menus rather than have you type "send" or "receive".

  6. Sit back and wait.

  7. When done, if transfering another file, repeat from step 2. 
     If not, get back to kermit on Athena, and type:       quit

  8. Do whatever work you want on Athena, or logout.

Often, there may be problems using these programs--sometimes the
consultants can help you, for problems that have their root on Athena,
and sometimes they may be at a loss, for problems that arise from your
PC, one way or another.  Kermit tends to have trouble with parity on
occassion, a problem that can be worked around as explained below.  If
you find that you are having problems, try the following things:

    o returning to your pasta (CPT) prompt by trying Ctrl-^ x, then
      typing "term download".  (Press RETURN to resume your session.)

    o disabling your zephyr to prevent incoming messages from
      interfering with the data transmission, by typing:

	add consult
	punt zwgc

    o running kermit again, first with the "-p o" command-line option
      (i.e. "kermit -p o") and, if that does not work with the "-p e"
      command-line option.

That's basically it.  Remember to always start the file transfer on
the remote end (Athena) first, then go back to the PC and start the
file transfer there.  And should OLC be unable to help, remember that
you can try reaching the Computing Help Desk by calling x3-4101, or 
sending e-mail to <net-help@mit.edu>.

When downloading text files from a Macintosh computer (that includes
the Mac Postscript files) remember to turn off the mac-binary option
in your communication program.  If you don't do this, the uploaded
file might have some unwanted control characters.  (If it is a Mac
Postscript file, the macps program won't work).


last modified: 7/2/98