Telnet output vertical tab disposition option (original) (raw)

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HISTORIC

D. Crocker (UCLA-NMC) RFC 657, NIC 31160 (Oct. 25, 1974) Online file: [ISI]NAOVTD.TXT

        TELNET OUTPUT VERTICAL TAB DISPOSITION OPTION

1. Command name and code NAOVTD 15 (Negotiate About Output Vertcial Tab Disposition)

2. Command meanings In the following, we are discussing a simplex connection, as described in the NAOL and NAOP Telnet Options specifications. IAC DO NAOVTD The data sender requests or agrees to negotiate about output vertical tab character disposition with the data receiver. In the case where agreement has been reached and in the absence of further subnegotiations, the data receiver is assumed to be handling output vertical tab character considerations. IAC DON'T NAOVTD The data sender refuses to negotiate about output vertical tab character disposition with the data receiver, or demands a return to the unnegotiated default mode. IAC WILL NAOVTD The data receiver requests or agrees to negotiate about output vertical tab character disposition with the sender. In the case where agreement has been reached and in the absence of further subnegotiations, the data receiver alone is assumed to be handling output vertical tab character considerations. IAC WON'T NAOVTD The data receiver refuses to negotiate about output vertical tab character disposition, or demands a return to the unnegotiated default mode. IAC SB NAOVTD DS <8-bit value> IAC SE The data sender specifies, with the 8-bit value, which party should handle output vertical tab characters and what their disposition should be. The code for DS is 1. IAC SB NAOVTD DR <8-bit value> IAC SE The data receiver specifies, with the 8-bit value, which party should handle output vertical tab characters and what their disposition should be. The code for DR is 0.

3. Default DON'T NAOVTD/WON'T NAOVTD In the default absence of negotiations concerning which party, data sender or data receiver, is handling output vertical tab character considerations, neither party is required to handle vertical tab characters and neither party is prohibited from handling them; but it is appropriate if at least the data receiver handles vertical tab character considerations, albeit primitively.

4. Motivation for the Option Please refer to section 4 of the NAOL and of the NAOVTD Telnet option descriptions.

5. Description of the Option The data sender and the data receiver use the 8-bit value along with the DS and DR SB commands as follows:

  8 bit value   Meaning

  0             Command sender suggests that he alone will handle
                vertical tab characters, for the connection.
  1 to 250      Command sender suggests that the other party alone
                should handle tab characters, but suggests that a
                delay of the indicated value be used. The value is
                the number of character-times to wait or number of
                NULs to insert in the data stream before sending the
                next data character.
  251           Command sender suggests that the other party alone
                handle vertical tabs, but suggests that each
                occurrence of the character be replaced by
                carriage-return/linefeed.
  252           Command sender suggests that the other party alone
                handle vertical tabs, but suggests that they be discarded.
  253           Command sender suggests that the other party alone
                should handle tab characters, but suggests that
                tabbing be simulated.
  254           Command sender suggests that the other party alone
                should handle the output disposition but suggests
                waiting for a character to be transmitted (on the
                other simplex connection) before sending more data.
                Note that, due to the assynchrony of the two
                simplex connections, phase problems can occur with
                this option.
  255           Command sender suggests that the other party alone
                should handle the output disposition and suggests
                nothing about how it should be done.

The guiding rules are that:

  1. if neither data receiver nor data sender wants to handle the
  output vertical tab characters, the data receiver must do it, and
  2. if both data receiver and data sender want to handle the output
  vertical tab characters, the data sender gets to do it.

The reasoning for the former rule is that if neither want to do it, then the default in the NAOVTD option dominates. If both want to do it, the sender, who is presumed to have special knowledge about the data, should be allowed to do it, taking into account any suggestions the receiver may make. Simulation is defined as the replacement of the character by enough line-feeds (only) to advance the paper (or line-pointer) to the next vertical tab stop. Note that delays, controlled by the data sender, must consist of NUL characters, inserted immediately after the line-feed character. This is necessary due to the assynchrony of network transmissions. As with all option negotiations, neither party should suggest a state already in effect except to refuse to negotiate; changes should be acknowledged; and once refused, an option should not be resuggested until "something changes" (e.g., another process starts). At any time, either party can disable further negotiation by giving the appropriate WON'T NAOVTD or DON'T NAOVTD command.