DynaComm® Asynchronous

Technical Profile

Contents

Related Support Documents

· DynaComm Asynchronous FAQ

· DynaComm Asynchronous Keyboard Mapping

· DCS Script Examples

· Telnet Troubleshooting Guide

· White Papers

I. Overview

A. Release History

II. Functionality

A. Platforms Supported

B. Basic Functionaliy

1. Emulations

2. Connectors

3. File Transfer Protocols

4. Scripting

5. Tools/User Interface

a. Color Mapper

b. Keyboard Mapper

6. Documentation/Help

C. Enhancements and Related Products

1. Client Options

2. Development Tools and Utilities

a. Dialog Editor

b. VBX Toolkit

c. Queue Dialer

d. Tutorial

e. Learn

f. Trace

f. Debug

f. Monitor

III. Technical Specifications

A. Minimum Recommended System Requirements

B. Installation

1. General

2. Installation Procedure

C. Configuration Files

D. Directory Structure

E. Icons

F. Configuration/Initialization Files

I. Overview

A. Release History

Note: All versions (with the exception of the latest two releases and the oldest release) have an international release issued on the same date. Version 31004A was the last version written for Windows 3.0.

A change in the second number of the release indicates a major release, whereas a change in the third digit signifies a maintenance release.

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II. Functionality

A. Platforms Supported

• Windows 3.x
• In addition, it works on Windows For WorkGroups, Windows 95, Windows NT 3.51 and Windows NT 4.0, though not certified for these platforms
• OS/2 Warp with Windows Support

B. Basic Functionality

1. Emulations -- standard with the base DCA installation

• ADDSVP60
• ANSI Color
• AT&T 605/705
• CompuServe
• DEC VT 52, 100, 102, 220, 340
• DG Dasher
• HP 700/94
• IBM 3101
• Televideo 925/950
• TTY (Generic)
• Wyse 50/60
• MiniTel (International Version Only)
• VideoTex (International Version Only)
• ViewData (International Version Only)

2. Connectors -- standard with the base DCA installation

• ATTAGS
• BAPI
• COM
• COMBIOS
• DECLAT
• Eicon X.25
• HPVT
• PATHWORKS
• NASI 3.X
• NetBIOS
• NETDEV
• NVT
• SUN PC-NFS
• Telnet
• 3COM
• TN_FTP
• TN_LWP
• TN_NEWT
• Winsock
• Wollongong

Dynacomm supports up to 9 com ports in Windows 3.x. Therefore, if the computer is configured to recognize more than four ports, then COM5 through COM9 can also be used.

3. File Transfer Protocols -- standard with the base DCA installation

• CompuServe B+
• FTP
• Kermit
• XModem
• YModem
• ZModem
  

4. Scripting

This is a powerful tool which allows you to customize Dynacomm and to automate recurring tasks. Scripts are not necessary, but are extremely useful for repetitive motions, reducing typing errors and for aiding inexperienced users in completing projects. The Dynacomm script reference manual guides users on how to design certain scripts to perform functions such as logging onto a system, customizing the toolbar, creating dialog boxes and so forth. For each of the example scripts given, there are detailed comments explaining the function of every individual line. There are also descriptions of all the commands and functions that are used within the scripting language within this document.

5. Tools/User Interface

a. Color Mapper

Note: Some terminal emulations, such as ANSI Color, allow the remote computer to determine the colors, rather than overriding any color instructions received.

b. Keyboard Mapper

6. Documentation Help

* Stored in the main directory.

7. International vs. Domestic versions

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C. Enhancements and Related Products

1. Client Options

There are currently two available client add-ons to DCA:

• TN3270: Allows you to make a Telnet 3270 connection
• VBX Toolkit:Allows you to control your Asynchronous session via a Visual Basic application.

2. Development Tools and Utilities

a. Dialog Editor

This dialog editor allows you to design your own dialog boxes using drag and drop visual tools. Various controls and text are conveniently placed in a Graphical User Interface, and the Editor creates the equivalent commands for you in script format. You can create new dialogs or customize existing ones.

b. VBX Toolkit

The VBX is a toolkit designed for communication between Visual Basic 3.0 or 4.0 (16 bit) and DynaComm Asynchronous. It does not support Visual Basic Version 4 (32 bit). The VBX can also be used for any language that can support a VBX (e.g. Power Builder, Delphi etc.), providing that the language is 16 bit only. The VBX can communicate with the connector then out to the host, or alternatively DCA can handle all of the processing which allows the user to interact with the terminal window like scripts do.

c. Queue Dialer

The Dialer is a very convenient way to both store and dial frequently used numbers in addition to connecting with on-line services and Bulletin Board Systems. The dialer allows you to organize the phone numbers into directories. Each directory can have up to 200 entries and you can have as many directories as you can store on your hard drive.

d. Tutorial

This provides a good learning facility to new users of Dynacomm. It gives a total of seven lessons about fundamental Dynacomm topics. After each lesson there follows a series of questions relating to the subject covered. This was written in the DynaComm Script Language.

e. Learn

This script records the dialog between user and host computer, to help you create scripts to automate tasks. This is available from the sixth button of the level one toolbar.

f. Trace

Within DCA, you have the ability to make traces of data sent from the host application. To make a trace, you go to Transfers: Receive Text File, making sure the “Save controls” check box is checked. To play back a trace, choose Transfers: View Text File. The trace saves incoming data only.

g. Debug

The “debug” command writes all of the executed script commands to the specified file. The “show” command turns on the debug mode, and the “noshow” command turns it off. These can be used to debug a defined segment of the script to focus in on a problem. If the “show” command precedes the debug command, or if the specified filename is “?”, then Dynacomm enters “Step Mode”. This causes each script command to display in the status bar before the command is executed. To execute the next command, go to the menu option Script : Resume. In addition, you can also use the “linenumbers” command, which places the line numbers in the compiled script.

h. Monitor Mode

This utility displays all of the inbound characters on the screen in both their displayable and hexadecimal formats. This option can be activated under the settings menu. If using the international edition, and you have selected any other option besides [None] in the translation profile, then Dynacomm will only translate the characters your keyboard generates and not the host.

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III. Technical Specifications

A. Miniumum Recommended System Requirements

• IBM compatible PC with a 386 or higher microprocessor, 4 meg of RAM
• Floppy disk drive
• Hard disk with at least 3.2 megabytes of free disk space
• Microsoft Windows 3.1 or above
• Free serial port or network connection
• Hayes compatible modem (if communication link is made over a phone line)

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B. Installation

1. General

• DCA ships with four 3.5 inch floppy diskettes
• Full Installation Footprint (Express): 9,658,247 bytes
• Compact Installation Footprint: 2,102,762 bytes

2. Installation Procedure

1. Allows the user to choose between:

   Express Set up - Installs everything automatically

   Custom Set up - User selects installed options*

   Minimal Set up - Install basic options only to save disk space*

   Selectable Options:

   Terminal Emulations
   Communications Connectors
   File Transfer Protocols
   Help
   Script
   Default Data Files
   Other Utilities

   *Please note that the Base Program is always installed.

2. Requests a directory in which to save DCA. The default is C:\DYNACOMM.
3. If DCA has been previously installed in the selected directory, it asks the user if they want to replace the files or if they would like to select another directory.
4. Install creates the directories required and installed the relevant files.
5. Install creates the DCASYNC.INI file.
6. User is given the option to install the icons on the desktop.
7. The DynaComm Program Group is created.
8. The setup.dct script is run, prompting default values for the com port, etc.
9. DCA is automatically launched.

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C. Configuration File and Registry Modifications

DCASYNC.INI file in the Windows main directory is the primary configuration file.

Within the Extensions section of the WIN.INI file, the following lines of code are added to ensure that when any file with a DCA, DCP, DCT, DCM or DCD extension is clicked on, DCA is automatically executed:

DCA = dynacomm.exe^.DCA

dcp = dynacomm.exe^.dcp

dct = dynacomm.exe^.dct

dcm = dynacomm.exe^.dcm

dcd = dynacomm.exe^.dcd

trn = dynacomm.exe^.trn

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D. Directory Structure

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E. Icons

addrbook.DCT found in C:\Dynacomm\dcp directory. This allows you to store frequently used contact names, along with their company name and telephone number. You can also run the ADDRBOOK.DCT file found within the script directory of DCA. business.DCD found in C:\Dynacomm\dcd. This dialing directory can be used for all of your business contacts. You can have up to 200 entries. colors.dct found in C:\Dynacomm\dcp directory. This gives you the opportunity to alter the colors on the majority of terminal emulations. You can also run the colors script by clicking on the eighth button on the level 1 toolbar. commcentre.exe found in C:\Dynacomm directory. This is a graphical display which indicates modem status lights and allows you to launch and switch between other applications. All configuration information is stored within the COMMCNTR.INI file which is stored in the Windows directory. dialoged.exe found in C:\Dynacomm directory. This standalone application provides an easy method to design dialogue boxes by using a user friendly graphical user interface, rather than coding in the script language. dynacomm.exe found in C:\Dynacomm directory. This is the executable used to launch Dynacomm. filefind.dct found in C:\Dynacomm\dcp directory. This script allows you to search a storage device and displays the path to the files in the dialog box. ddedemo.dct found in C:\Dynacomm\dcp. This is an example dde script between Dynacomm and Excel. For further information on DDE’s, please refer to the script manual. fsftp.exe found in C:\Dynacomm directory. This is a standalone program which lets you connect to remote host (through a TCP/IP stack) and allows you to transfer files. remote.dct found in C:\Dynacomm\dcp. This is used if you wish to turn your computer into a host (like the BBS) and allows you to receive calls from other computers. This is also available in the seventh button on the default level 1 toolbar. infonums.dcd found in C:\Dynacomm\dcd. This is an information dialing directory. You are allowed up to 200 entries. learn.dct found in C:\Dynacomm\dcp. This facility helps you to write scripts by recording your actions. It is also available on the sixth button on the level 1 toolbar. This is always the second script listed under the script menu. match.dct found in C:\Dynacomm\dcp. This is a game whereby you have to match up icons. You can run match from MATCH.DCT within the scripts section. mmedia.dct found in C:\Dynacomm\dynacomm.exe. This script allows you to attach WAV sounds and play MIDI files. This is also available on the third button of the level one toolbar. The last version that included this was 3.11.00 which is no longer supported. pleasure.dcd found in C:\Dynacomm\dynacomm.exe. This is a dialing directory for up to 200 entries on your external business contacts. readme.wri found in C:\Dynacomm directory. This text file contains details on any last minute changes or enhancements to Dynacomm, which are not included within the on-line help files. setup.dct found in C:\Dynccomm\dcp. This executable file is a set up wizard which prepares Dynacomm for communications and also checks your modem settings. It is also on the eight button of the level one toolbar. showicon.dct found in C:\Dynacomm\dcp. This script shows you all of the ICO files stored within Dynacomm’s default directory together with all the icons in FSEICONS.DLL. tutorial.dct found in C:\Dynacomm\dcp directory. The tutorial is a gentle introduction to Dynacomm and takes you through seven lessons, which are proceeded by questions. It is also available under the script menu. uk.dcd found in C:\Dynacomm\dcd directory. This is a dialing directory for all of your United Kingdom Contacts. A maximum of 200 entries is permitted. usa.dcd found in C:\Dynacomm\dcd directory. This is a dialing directory for all American contacts. A maximum of 200 entries is permitted. videotex.dcd found in C:\Dynacomm\dcd directory. This is one of the international videotex dialing directories. A maximum of 200 entries is permitted yahtzee.dct found in C:\Dynacomm\dcp directory. This script is a game which is Dynacomm’s version of the dice game Yahtzee.

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F. Configuration/Initialization Files

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