|
|
C-DAC GIST CARD
Frequently asked questions
Q. What can I do with GIST card?
Ans.:
GIST card makes it possible to use your IBM-PC compatible in a script independent
way. Whatever you could do now in only English language, can now be done in
your own script like Tamil, Bengali, Devanagari, etc. The existing software
meant for taking input in English can now accept data in your script. Similarly
it can display it also in the same script or a different one, instantly. This
is possible due to the transliteration feature.
Q. Is my language supported on GIST card?
Ans.:
All major Indian scripts are supported on GIST. It includes - Devanagari (used
for Hindi, Marathi and Sanskrit languages), Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil,
Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, and Assamese. Even the right to left scripts
like Urdu, Sindhi, Kashmiri, are provided. (Persian for word processing only.)
Other available scripts are English, Tibetan, Druk(Bhutanese), Sinhalese, Russian,
Arabic, and Thai.
Q. Do I need a GIST card?
Ans.:
If you are working with different Indian or foreign scripts, GIST card can make
your work simpler. You can do Word- processing, Data-processing and whole lot
of new applications with GIST. You may now use any word class software meant
for English with your scripts. Or you may write your own software using any
standard software tools and compilers in Basic, Cobol, Fortran, Pascal, C, Assembly,
Dbase,
Q. Can I use it on my computer?
Ans.:
The GIST add-on card for PCs can be used with all IBM-PC
Q. Is the GIST card an expensive solution?
Ans.:
The GIST card gives you excellent value for your money in the short run as well
as the long run. You can use almost any text mode software with your own language
data. It means you do not have to change the software to take care of the scripts
and the latest versions of your favorite software can be used straight away.
For example, if you were using dBase III and you upgraded to dBase IV, then
the same GIST card would provide the familiar script interface. It also eliminates
recurring training needed for the staff as in case of other specific application
oriented script interfaces.
Q. Where to look for other information?
Ans.: The following additional
documents may be of use.
1. ALP manual
2. Inscript Keyboard Manual
3. Bureau of Indian Standards document, IS 13194:1991
Q. What are - Alt-Menu, GIST Menu commands?
Ans.:
After the Firmware has been loaded onto the GIST card, the left Alt key assumes
a special importance. Alt-Tab combination switches between the IBM and GIST
screens. While you are on the GIST screen, pressing the Alt key displays the
GIST Menu on the top of the screen. This is used to make various selections
for using GIST. Wherever there is a reference to a Alt key sequence, you have
to press the Alt key and hold it down while the other keys are pressed. For
example, if asked to press Alt-S-DV, the following steps will be needed
1. Press the Alt key down and do not release it.
2. At the same time, press the S key and release it.
3. Also, press the D key and release it.
4. Also press the V key and release it.
5. Now the Alt key may be released.
Q. If the Alt key
is used for GIST menu selections then what happens to software like Word-Perfect
which use Alt key for their command selections?
Ans.: The shift-Alt key
combination will work like normal Alt key with such software, and the Alt key
as such can be used for GIST menu selections.
Q. How do I select my script for using on GIST?
Ans.:
The languages that are loaded currently can be seen by pressing Alt-S while
on GIST screen. Select the one needed by pressing the corresponding capitalized
letter of that language. For example, press Alt-S-BN for Bengali, Alt-S-TM for
Tamil, Alt-S-TL for Telugu, etc.
This
language setting can be made permanent on your Image file (say GIST.IMG) by
giving the command - LOAD TO GIST.IMG. You must be in the directory where the
Image file is located (say C:\GIST).
Q. After selecting the script how do I enter text from the same QWERTY keyboard?
Ans.:
The Caps-Lock key is used to toggle between the QWERTY layout for English
and the Inscript layout for Indian languages. A beep can be heard when one switches
from QWERTY to Inscript layout. Use keyboard labels to enhance your existing
keyboard or a screen printed keyboard for your script overlay. Inscript layout
is very easy to learn and remember. Vowels are placed on the left half and the
consonants on the right half of the layout. They are further subdivided into
short-vowels, long-vowels, different vargs, etc. Use the Keyboard Tutor software
to practice typing on this Inscript overlay.
Q. But if Caps-Lock
is used to switch between QWERTY and INSCRIPT overlays, then how do I enter
capital English alphabet?
Ans.:
For entering capital English alphabet, use the Shift key while you are in the
QWERTY mode. In case you wish to use the Caps- Lock key to enter many capital
letters without pressing Shift key, then use Alt-SpaceBar combination.
If the Alt-SpaceBar combination
is pressed, then it lets you toggle between Inscript overlay and the QWERTY
layout with upper case English.
Q. The normal printer port becomes un-usable
after installing GIST. What must be done?
Ans.:
Actually it is not so. Read the following information carefully and select the
technique that suits you best.
Selection of GIST printer
port LPT1 LPT2
LPT3
1. GIST driver absent
- LPT1 LPT2
LPT3
2. Image File Not Loaded -
LPT1 LPT2 LPT3
3. GIST port = LPT1
* LPT2 LPT3
4. GIST port = LPT2
LPT1 * LPT3
5. GIST port = LPT3
LPT1 LPT2
*
- indicates that
this port is not usable for printing without downloading firmware image file.
* indicates that
it is mapped logically to the GIST printer port and the port connector on your
computer cannot be used for printing via BIOS/DOS calls.
Q. How to take printouts with help of GIST Card?
Ans.:
Copy the file to be printed to the PRN device. Most of the packages send data
to be printed to LPT1 by default. This will also go to the GIST printer spooler
and printer if the Printer port selection in the Alt-Menu is LPT1. But the data
sent to PRN device will always be directed to the GIST printer port, irrespective
of the port selection in the Alt-Menu.
Q. Printout comes jumbled-up?
Ans.:
Incorrect Printer-Driver selection can cause such a problem. Check and select
the appropriate driver that suits your printer. If the printer is switched off
while printing, re - select the correct printer driver before resuming the printing.
Q. Which printer should I use with GIST Card?
Ans.:
Apart from the Printers listed, almost all dot-matrix printer can be used with
GIST since they support either IBM or EPSON emulation. Select a printer depending
upon your budget and speed requirements. For better speed and accuracy the 24-pin
Dot Matrix Printers are recommended. Refer to the answer for printing speed
where a comparison of certain printers is given. You may use a bubble-jet printer
with Epson emulation.
Q. Can I use dBase, Lotus 1-2-3, WordStar, etc. along with Indian scripts supported on GIST?
Ans.:
Yes. This is the most significant feature for the people who are planning
to have large databases and applications running on the PC platform. In fact
any commercial software that was meant for use with English language only, can
now be used with your script. All with the help of GIST card.
The
only limitation is that GIST card will work with text-mode software only. It
does not work with graphics mode software like Microsoft Windows, AutoCAD, etc.
Now, the same functionality can be got under MS-Windows etc. by using the GIST-ISM
package. It uses ISFOC fonts to display the various scripts.
Q. When data entry is done in any script on GIST data-page, the L shaped cursor splits into two parts. One is a horizontal bar and the other is a vertical bar. What does it mean?
Ans.:
This L cursor has a special significance. The horizontal bar indicates the position
of the cursor on the standard display adapter with fixed width characters on
a 80*25 screen. Whereas the vertical bar indicates the position of cursor for
proportionally spaced script fonts. The vertical cursor may lag behind the horizontal
one, depending upon the fonts in the script being used. Both cursors are useful.
The vertical bar shows the exact position while editing or doing text entry.
And the horizontal bar can be used to find how many characters have been used
actually in a particular field. This will prevent any overflow in the fields
at the time of data entry. These fields are defined in number of fixed space
characters only and not for the proportional fonts. Hence, care has to be exercised
while designing forms for data entry and must be ensured that the fields are
sufficiently large or small to hold the items fully.
Q. How to enter some additional characters
present in southern scripts?
Ans.:
For entering certain characters in Malayalam, Tamil etc. the Nukta key has to
be pressed in addition to the basic alphabet. For example, the extra trilled
‘ after the ra key. The ‘zh’ sound of Tamil and Malayalam is entered by appending
a Nukta after the Shift-la key.
Q. What is Nukta and how is it entered from Inscript keyboard?
Ans.:
It is a kind of operator to derive the additional forms of the basic characters.
It is entered by pressing the key which contains the ‘]’ bracket while in the
Inscript overlay mode.
Q. Somtimes Display hangs-up, what could be the problem?
Ans.:
If the H key is pressed along with Alt, then the GIST video is in HOLD mode.
It can be taken out from this state by pressing Alt-H again. If the computer
is hung-up then it could be due to an application software problem.
Q. What is the difference between the DATA-PAGE and the SCRIPT-PAGE on GIST?
Ans.:
The DATA-PAGE provides a compatibility with the 80 column by 25 row screen on
the PCs. This page uses the PC-ACII version of the ACII code set that preserves
the box-drawing characters in their place so that the existing English packages
can be used without any change. The 2Dat_big provides a magnified view of the
1Dat_Pg in higher resolution. But it can show fewer lines of text at a time.
On the other hand, the SCRIPT-PAGE is unique to GIST. It provides proportionally
width characters even for English and use high-resolution 24-dot fonts for a
better display of all the scripts.
Q. Printing speed is not sufficient on my printer?
Ans.:
Using a faster printer will normally solve the problem. The 24-pin printers
give much better speed since full 24-dot GIST fonts are printed in a single
pass, whereas the 9-pin printers have to do multiple passes to print the same
row of text.
For
GIST printing, the bit-map graphics mode of the printer is used which is generally
slower than the text mode. The graphics printing speed will be proportionally
less in the same ratio as the normal text mode printing speed in cps (characters
per second). The GIST printing speed in graphics mode cannot be specified in
cps because speed not only depends on the language, but also on the distribution
of data on paper.
The
Letter quality mode uses hi-resolution 24-dot (vertical height) fonts whereas
the draft mode uses 13-dot fonts. The LQ mode also results in slower printing.
Avoid using it if the printing has to be done faster and draft printout is acceptable.
Q. If a file is copied to PRN or LPT1, it gets printed through the GIST printer port. But nothing gets printed through particular software. Why?
Ans.:
The GIST printer port is mapped through the device driver software to accept
data sent to PRN or LPT1. It is not identical hardware-vise to a normal printer
adapter found on the PC. So, if a software writes directly to the printer port
and does not use the BIOS or DOS service, then it cannot print the data through
GIST port. However, this is extremely rare and even if it happens then the data
to be printed can be written into a disk file instead, and then copied to GIST
port (PRN) from the DOS command line.
Q. While doing printing on continuous stationery from a software, the Page alignment gets disturbed on every new form?
Ans.:
Check for correct settings in the Alt-P-S menu. The Form Size (it specifies
the maximum number of lines on one page) must be chosen so that the number of
lines per inch (vertically) multiplied by the stationery length, is equal to
the FormSize value. For eg, if you are using 6 lines per inch then the Form
Size value = (6 * 12 inch form) = 72. For 5 lines per inch on a 12-inch form,
the FormSize value will be 60.
Q. Printer skips one page after printing each page. Why?
Ans.:
It can happen if the data includes a Form-Feed character after all N (N = FormSize
setting) lines of a page have been sent. Actually, the Form-Feed command must
be a part of these N lines itself, even if it is on the Nth line in place of
usual CR+LF. Alternatively, removing the Form-feed character from every page
can also solve this problem.
Q. How can GIST be used for printing on a LaserJet printer?
Ans.:
Taking a print-out on a Laser printer (LaserJet-II, IIP or III) is as simple
as using the Dot-matrix printer. The internal fonts of GIST are used. Select
the Printer Driver as LaserJet in the Alt-Menu and do the printing with your
software. Your Laser printer must be compatible to HP LaserJet.
Remember
to select the Printer Driver(Alt-P-D-J) for every fresh printing so that
the printing starts from the top of page every time. The default page size of
65 lines is meant for A4 size paper.
Q. How to terminate a current printing being done through GIST and start another one?
Ans.:
Do not switch off the printer to cancel a printing. Use the Abort feature in
Alt menu by pressing Alt-P-A keys. This will empty the spooler and stop the
data going to printer. After this the printer may print the data already received
in its buffer or it can be switched off to terminate it. Select the appropriate
printer driver again if the printer is switched on again, by pressing Alt-P-D-(driver-type)
keys. Then another printing can be started.
Q. The card was working earlier but stopped working recently after some other card was installed or replaced in the computer?
Ans.:
This can be due to an I/O address clash or an Interrupt clash between that new
card and the GIST card. Check out from the service manuals and use a different
address or interrupt for them.
Q. The card was working earlier but stopped working recently. There is no change in the set-up?
Ans.:
If the card is not clamped firmly with the help of metal-clamp, it can become
loose if the connector is pulled or pushed from outside. This can lead to such
a problem. The video connectors and printer cable must also be screwed-on properly
to prevent them from falling off. Call the service engineer if the problem persists.
Q. A software protection key (or lock) is to be installed on my computer on LPT1 port. Where should it be connected?
Ans.:
The GIST printer port is not like a normal printer port found on the PCs. So
the software key must not be connected to the GIST printer port. Almost every
software that uses such a key, does a direct read-write to the printer port.
Hence, the key must be connected to the same printer adapter card where it would
have been connected if the GIST card were not there.
Q. What about DTP ? Can I use Ventura or PageMaker?
Ans.:
For doing DTP with the help of software like Ventura and PageMaker, a package
named ISM is available. GIST card can be used for data entry with a convenient
INSCRIPT layout and the data can later be converted and then taken into the
DTP software using ISM.
Q. Can I use GIST card with Microsoft Windows?
Ans.: Although GIST card
can be used with text mode software only but,ISM and LEAP Office are available
for such applications.
Q. What about using the features of GIST with multi-user operating systems like VAX-VMS, SCO-XENIX, UNIX, etc?
Ans.:
A device-driver is available that can be used with GIST card on the console
computer that is running the SCO-XENIX and SCO-UNIX operating system. Ask for
it separately.
Q. Colors do not come when GIST video is seen. Why?
Ans.: GIST display is monochrome
only and does not provide colour
Q. When using GIST with other software, the pull-down menus do not come in color and even the boxes do not have the correct appearance?
Ans.:
Certain software use different foreground and background color combinations
with EGA or VGA adapters to show boxes or menu items. Appearance of these items
can be improved by using the /R option with the device driver. Alternatively,
software may be re-configured for monochrome mode and the display will be correct
on GIST screen.
Q. Can the GIST card be used for putting information on TV or Video-tapes?
Ans.:
The GIST card cannot generate a PAL compatible video-output,
Q. Can the GIST card be used for putting information on TV or Video-tapes?
Ans.: The GIST card cannot generate a PAL compatible video-output, for this purpose there is another system called MOVE (Multiscript Online Video Editor)
Q. Can I use the GIST card on PCI bus?
Ans.: Currently the GIST card will work with ISA bus only. The PCI based GIST card is under development.
Q. Can I do Telnet to UNIX through GIST card?
Ans.: Yes. You can use GLINK utility (Optional) . GLINK is a Terminal Emulation Software. With GLINK the system can act as a GIST Terminal. GLINK will work with GIST card only. Without GIST card it can not function. If you have a network of systems connected to Unix server. There are 2 options in GLINK for connectivity. One is Serial connection and other one is TCP / IP. For serial connection the system should have connected to Unix server through serial cable. For TCP/IP connection the TCP/IP software has to be there in system. Like WOLLONGONG software.
Q. How to get printing from GLINK?
Ans.: You can take the printing of multilingual data stored in Unix server from Gist card. For this the system (where the gist card is installed) has to be configured for local printer device. Connect the printer directly to Gist card. Select the printer driver from Gist Card ALT menu.
Q. Functions keys are not working with GLINK. Where same Function keys are working fine with other Terminal Emulation Software?
Ans.: For this problem the terminal has to be configured properly. Select the proper terminal mode such as VT100 & VT220 etc. and configure the keyboard.
Q. Is background printing available on GIST card?
Ans.: Background is not available on GIST card. This facility is available on GIST Terminal.
Q. Whether we can use GIST Cardin a machine
with Remote Boot facility
Ans.:
If you are using the Remote-Boot ROMs on your network card to boot the Local
node from the server itself, then you can insert the GIST device driver into
the Remote-Boot file (say NET$DOS.SYS). For this, you must make a bootable disk
with the device driver on it. Do not forget to modify the CONFIG.SYS file (in
a way identical to the bootable GIST diskette). The image file can also be placed
into the Remote-Boot file. To update your image file, you must boot the local
node once with this diskette before using it with DOSGEN to update NET$DOS.SYS
file (in \LOGIN directory). If there are several kind of display adapters in
use with GIST cards on your network, then make different Remote-Boot files for
all of these different type of nodes. These may be be made specific to different
node addresses by specifying their name in BOOTCONF.SYS file. Even GIST cards
with different options in "config.sys" file must have separate Remote-Boot
files.
Q. GIST Card when connected with ETHERNET Card is not working. What is the possible solution?
Ans.:
The GIST Card was not able to co-exist with a Ethernet Card only if Remote Boot
ROM was enabled. This problem was known to exist for long. The description and
solution has been found to be as follows:
Problem as understood:
The
Remote Boot ROM on Ethernet card reads the I/O ports at all possible base-addresses
for it. This it must be doing to locate the card. In case the GIST card happens
to be at any of these addresses, the GIST card signature would be read incidentally
by this Boot ROM. Later the card signature is not found and even the Driver
does not load.
Also
the Automatic Interrupt detection of GIST driver (V1.28A onwards) may be interfering
with the actual interrupts on Ethernet card, so it causes the Ethernet to hang
up immediately after this occurs.
Solution:
1.
Use the Ethernet card on the lowest possible I/O address like 240h and put GIST
card on 310h. Interrupt for Ethernet card must be different from the one used
for GIST card.
2.
Specify the address and interrupt explicitly. Disable the automatic interrupt
detection (Only for GIST Driver V1.28A onwards) by /q option before the /i option.
Any other options must be given after these three options.
e.g.- DEVICE=GISTDRV.SYS
/q /i5 /a310
Test Results:
1.
Compex card in Native mode i.e. WDCPX, I/O address= 320h, IRQ2, Remote Boot
ROM version V1.01, V2.2, V2.4 was used. GIST card was set for 360h and IRQ5.
Driver options were /q /a360 /i5. The Ethernet card and GIST card worked well
together from Hard-disk boot as well as Novell’s Remote Boot.
2.
Compex card in NE2000 mode (More common), I/O address = 240h, IRQ3, various
Remote boot ROMS. GIST card at 310h and IRQ5. Driver options were /q /a310 /i5.
Hard disk as well as Remote boot worked fine with both cards operational.
3. It was also tried on the new Ethernet cards which are software configurable. The Ethernet card address was 240h and interrupt was IRQ3 again. GIST card at 310h and IRQ5. Driver options were /q /a310 /i5. Hard disk as well as Remote boot worked fine with both cards operational.
Q. Is there
any network version of GIST CARD & GIST SHELL available? Is it necessary
to have Dongles in each and every machine for working with the software?
Ans.: GIST Card
is a Hardware Card, which should be connected to the system. There is no network
version of GIST CARD. You have to have GIST CARD in each and every machine.
GIST Shell have network version. This supports unlimited users and only one
Dongle is required , which should be connected to the Novell Netware Server.
Q. One of our
client is in requirement for editing & printing in Marathi. They are using
Clipper for developing Accounting package. How can we go about it?
Ans.: Either GIST
Card or GIST Shell can be used for this as it is a DOS based applications. More
details of GIST CARD and GIST Shell can be had from the following link. http://www.cdacindia.com/html/gist/products.asp
