The Electronic Edition of Using C-Kermit

[ QUICK LINK ]   (keep reading if the link doesn't work)

Using C-Kermit, 2nd Edition, is a published book, with all rights held by the publisher, Digital Press (an imprint of Elsevier Science). A printed copy of this book was included with each shrinkwrapped copy of Kermit 95, version 1.1.17 and earlier. It doubles as the user manual for C-Kermit (for UNIX, VMS, VOS, etc), and the technical reference manual for Kermit 95 (because it describes the command and scripting language used by both programs).

NOTE: Using C-Kermit, 2nd Edition, was published in 1997 and is current with C-Kermit 6.0 and Kermit 95 1.1.8. Pending the publication of a third edition, updates are documented in the C-Kermit 7.0 Supplement to Using C-Kermit, 2nd Edition, and in the C-Kermit 8.0 Supplement.

DOWNLOADING USING C-KERMIT

To reduce costs (and therefore price), the current version of Kermit 95 does not include Using C-Kermit Instead, buyers of the Kermit 95 2.1 shrinkwrapped package are permitted to download an electronic edition of Using C-Kermit at no direct cost from:

http://www.manning.com/download/

This version of the manual is in PDF format and can be accessed by Adobe Acrobat Reader.

To download, you must be ready to provide your Kermit 95 serial number, such as "K95-00007654321-2.1", and you must agree to receive email from the book publisher, Digital Press. The download consists of two files, uck2ep1.pdf and uck2ep2.pdf, which should be stored in the the DOCS\MANUAL subdirectory of the Kermit 95 program directory, usually:

C:\Program Files\Kermit 95 2.1\DOCS\MANUAL\

so the links in the Kermit 95 will be able to find it. The size of the download is approximately 20MB (it's a 622-page book).

BULK AND SITE LICENSEES

The PDF version of the book is not included with electronically delivered versions of Kermit 95, nor with academic site or bulk right-to-copy licenses. This is because the PDF version of the book has the same legal and copyright status as a printed paper copy, and costs just as much. Therefore it is available only to those who purchase Kermit 95 in shrinkwrapped form, whose price covers the cost of the book. Like the printed book before it, the PDF version of the book is not included with bulk or academic site licenses, since this would increase the cost of those licenses prohibitively. Books can be purchased separately in printed or PDF form; see the Kermit Website for details.

PURCHASING USING C-KERMIT AS AN E-BOOK

At this writing, it has been agreed that the PDF version of Using C-Kermit will also be available as a separate "e-book" product for those who did not receive it by purchasing Kermit 95 1.1.20 or later in shrinkwrapped retail form. The details will be posted on the Kermit 95 website as soon as they are available:

http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/k95.html

ACCESSING USING C-KERMIT

Here is the link to the PDF version of Using C-Kermit:

Using C-Kermit, 2nd Edition (PDF)

If you click on this link, one of four things will happen:

  1. Your Web browser will report that it is not found. This is to be expected all copies of K95 1.1.20. In this case you must download or purchase the PDF version, as explained above, if you wish to have access to it.

  2. Adobe Acrobat Reader will start with the cover of Using C-Kermit on the screen. This means you have the PDF manual and a PDF reader. For convenience, you may wish to add a bookmark to your Web browser. Skip the next two sections and read Using the PDF Manual.

  3. Adobe Acrobat Reader will start, but it will display a message to the effect that the electronic version of Using C-Kermit is not licensed for use with your copy of Kermit 95. Read If You Don't Have the PDF Manual.

  4. An error will occur because you do not have a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. Go to Adobe.Com to download a free copy of Acrobat Reader.

USING THE PDF EDITION

When you start the PDF reader, you should see two windows. The narrow one on the left is the bookmarks column, for quick access to each chapter. You can make it disappear (or return after disappearing) with the leftmost buttons on the Acrobat Reader toolbar.

The larger window on the right contains the book. You can use the stretch bars or corner to change the size or dimensions to suit your screen or preferences. These are actual page images from the printed book, so the type might be small on some screens. In that case you can use the Zoom-In tool on the Acrobat Reader toolbar, or you can print the desired pages.

The book comes in two pieces: the front matter (cover, table of contents, preface), and then the book's chapters (page 1 through the end). The two pieces are connected by links: one at the end of the first, the other at the beginning of the second. You must click on these links to move from one piece to the other.

The table of contents is clickable, sending you straight to the desired chapter or section. The index at the end, however, is not clickable. But it can still be used: find the desired reference in the normal manner, and then tell Acrobat Reader to "go to" the corresponding page (Ctrl-5 does this in Windows).

Searching (with the binoculars button on toolbar) works within the current piece (front matter or book). Copying to the clipboard works if you select the "text selection tool" [abc] on the toolbar.

Note that certain items in the book have been scanned and "pasted" in: the illustrations, the Cyrillic text, and the Hebrew text. Certain operations might not work as expected on these items, e.g. searching for or copying Cyrillic text.

Everything else you need to know can be found in Acrobat Reader's Help menu.

Using C-Kermit PDF / Columbia University / kermit@columbia.edu / 24 October 2002