What do I need to use GCG at NIH?

1. A computer such as a Mac, PC or Unix workstation as your desktop machine.
2. A helix account.
3. A modem or network connection to helix, and appropriate terminal emulation software.
4. A printer (not required, but highly recommended!)

How do I use GCG from a Mac?

You need a modem connection or network connection, as well as terminal emulation software. A minimal terminal emulation software package is Versaterm. If you are likely to want GCG Graphics (e.g. to see a graphic display of a restriction map) you will need something like Versaterm Pro. The most common free software is NCSA Telnet, but this software causes known problems with the cursor keys and has poor graphics capabilities. You can also use X-terminal emulator software which has good graphics capabilities.

Versaterm and Versaterm Pro are available from

NCSA Telnet is available from NCSA, University of Illinois.

How do I use GCG from a PC (clone)?

You need a modem connection or network connection, as well as terminal emulation software. The recommended commercial software is SmarTerm which can handle GCG graphics. The package PC/TCP also works. The most common free software is NCSA Telnet, but this software causes known problems with the cursor keys and has poor graphics capabilities. You can also use X-terminal emulator software which has good graphics capabilities.

SmarTerm is available from:

Free terminal emulation software is NCSA Telnet, available from NCSA, University of Illinois.

How do I use GCG from a Unix machine?

Cursor (arrow) keys don't work in Seqed

Mac running NCSA Telnet

If you're running the latest version of NCSA Telnet, v 7.24b, you need to redefine your terminal emulation to vt100. In NCSA Telnet, go into the Preferences menu, then into Terminals, then into Change. Set the terminal emulation type to be vt100 (the 'answerback' string should also change to vt100). Now log in to helix and try seqed; the arrow keys should work.

If you're running an older version of NCSA Telnet, consider upgrading! You can get the later versions from NCSA's ftp site. If for some reason you're stuck with v2.5 or v 2.6, you can fake it out by redefining some keys to send the codes that GCG expects for the arrow keys, using the Macro feature of NCSA Telnet. For example, you can define the numeric keypad keys to correspond to the normal cursor key codes. Under the 'Edit' menu, select 'Set Macros'. Then define:

(AppleKey)2 to be \033OB   
(AppleKey)4 to be \033OD   
(AppleKey)6 to be \033OC
(AppleKey)8 to be \033OA

[Note in the above codes the first 0 is the number zero and the second is uppercase "o". And yes, you need the backslash.] To save these settings use the "Save Set" option under the "FILE" menu.....this will provide an icon which, when clicked on, will open a session with all your previously defined settings, including macros. Now, to type an up-arrow, you would type 'Apple-2', and for a left-arrow you would type 'Apple-4' etc. Use the numeric keypad on the right of your keyboard, not the number keys that are above your alphabet on the keyboard.

PC running NCSA Telnet

Try redefining the keys to send the codes that GCG expects for the arrow keys. In NCSA Telnet, under the "EDIT" menu, select "Set Macros". You may be able to define something like

        (Alt key) 2     \033OB
        (Alt key) 4     \033OD
        (Alt key) 6     \033OC
        (Alt key) 8     \033OA

(in the above codes the first 0 is the number zero, and the second is uppercase "o") You would then save these settings using the "Save Set" option under the FILE menu. Then, to use the cursor keys, you use "Alt"+numeric keypad 2, or Alt+numeric keypad 8 etc.

Unix machine

The keyboard has two sets of arrow keys -- one set immediately to the right of the letter keys and one set on the numeric keypad. If one set doesn't work, try the other.

Delete and backspace keys don't work in Seqed.

This problem has been seen with all machines, and simply involves setting up the terminal emulator options correctly. GCG accepts only the code for the Delete key, whereas Unix accepts either. If you modify your terminal emulator settings and the Backspace key no longer works in a regular Unix (helix) session, use the Delete key instead.

Windows NT machine with Telnet terminal emulator. (This is the default emulator that comes with NT machines). There are no setup options for delete and backspace keys, but the delete key will work in Seqed while the B/S key does nothing.

Windows NT machine with EWAN terminal emulator. Go into 'Options' menu, select 'Configuration', then 'Emulator options', and click on 'Map B/s to Delete'. The Backspace key should work now, while the Delete key will not do anything.

What X-terminal emulators can I use on a Mac or PC?

GCG users may be able to get discounts for Exceed, which is available for Windows 3.1x, Windows 95, and Windows NT.