Category : Pascal Source Code
Archive   : APRO.ZIP
Filename : APRO.BRO

Async Professional
------------------
Async Professional is a powerful, easy to use asynchronous communications
library that will help you get your comm applications working fast. Async
Professional uses a layered architecture that provides both object-oriented
and traditional procedural interfaces. It supports all industry standard file
transfer protocols including ZMODEM. Also included is an event logging and
tracing facility that makes debugging your application easy.

A Layered Communications Architecture
-------------------------------------
The layered architecture separates the specifics of a particular
communications device from the application program interface. The abstract
layer defines the standard data and core procedures that all comm ports will
support.

The device layer implements the core procedures for a specific device. Async
Professional provides two specific device layers: one that works with all
standard PC UART (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter) chips and
another that uses the BIOS interrupt 14H services. Because the abstract layer
has a well-defined interface, you can also write your own device layers to
support non-standard devices such as multi-port comm boards.

Applications call the routines in the interface layer, which transfers the
requests to the appropriate device layer routines. By working through the
interface layer, your application will automatically support any new devices
without change. Async Professional provides two interface layers --
object-oriented and procedural. You can choose either programming style
depending on which Pascal compiler you have and your personal preference.

Async Professional's higher level facilities for file transfer, modem control,
etc., call the interface layer and are also provided in both OOP and non-OOP
styles.

Fast and Flexible UART Control
------------------------------
Async Professional provides interrupt-driven, buffered I/O at speeds up to
115K baud on an 8MHz IBM AT. The interrupt handler supports optional automatic
hardware handshaking (CTS/RTS and DTR/DSR) and software flow control
(XON/XOFF).

Async Professional supports COM1-COM4 for PC compatibles, and COM1-COM8 for
PS/2 machines. Up to four ports may be open simultaneously. Interrupt (IRQ)
sharing is supported for the micro-channel PS/2. Async Professional takes full
advantage of the 16550 buffered UART.

You can activate a status buffer that is updated at the same time as the
receive data buffer. When line errors occur, you'll then know exactly how much
of the data is affected.

The Protocols You Need, Including ZMODEM
----------------------------------------
Async Professional includes ZMODEM, the most powerful general purpose protocol
available. ZMODEM is up to six times faster than XMODEM. It automatically
adjusts packet sizes and can resume aborted file transfers from the point
where they stopped. Async Professional also includes the XMODEM/YMODEM family
of protocols (including the CRC, 1K, and G variants). It also provides the
Kermit protocol, which is especially useful for transfers to mini-computers
and mainframes, many of which have Kermit drivers already available.

Powerful Debugging Tools Help You Finish Faster
-----------------------------------------------
Event logging creates a time-stamped audit trail of all serial interrupts as
your application runs. Tracing creates a report of all the characters sent and
received by your program. With tools like these you can forget the old
breakout box and debug communication problems more quickly than ever.

Terminal Emulation Support Tools
--------------------------------
Async Professional's ANSI interpreter decodes escape sequences to perform
standard CRT operations. Conversely, it will translate CRT calls such as
GotoXY and TextColor into the appropriate ANSI codes.

Async Professional provides a modem unit that makes it easy to control and
receive responses from Hayes-compatible modems, and also includes support for
V.32, HST 9600, and MNP level 5 modems.

Decompression Tools for ZIP and LZH Access
------------------------------------------
Async Professional includes units and objects for decompressing archive files
stored in the ZIP and LZH formats. Now your programs can access these files
without shelling out to DOS. (No routines to compress data are included at
this time.)

Example Programs Get You Up to Speed Fast
-----------------------------------------
Async Professional includes several full-featured demonstration programs and
many small example programs to illustrate the proper use of each routine. A
simple, general-purpose terminal program uses only the functions of Async
Professional to demonstrate comm port and modem control, ANSI emulation, and
file transfer protocols. Another demonstration shows how to use Async
Professional with Object Professional -- this program has a friendly, modern
user interface including mouse support, pull-down menus, and a text editor for
message composition. (You must own Object Professional to change or recompile
this program.) A TerminalWindow object derived from Object Professional's
CommandWindow hierarchy lets you easily add a communications window to your
program.

Professional Documentation and Technical Support
------------------------------------------------
You get complete printed documentation, pop-up help from an 8K TSR, and
accurate CompuServe and telephone support directly from the authors. Async
Professional includes complete source code. You pay no royalties for your
finished applications.

Async Professional requires Turbo Pascal 5.5 or 6.0. The procedural (non-OOP)
routines may also be used with Turbo Pascal 5.0 or QuickPascal. PC-DOS or
MS-DOS 2.0 or later and an IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2, or compatible are required.
Both 5.25" and 3.5" disks are included. Async Professional is compatible with
Object Professional, Turbo Professional, B-Tree Filer, and Borland's Turbo
Vision.

The list price for Async Professional is $139. It will be available for
shipment in June 1991.

Uses for Async Professional
---------------------------
o instrumentation data acquisition
o plotter and printer drivers
o terminal emulators
o BBS development
o micro to mini data transfer
o long-distance file transfer
o distributed data storage without a LAN
o general-purpose communications programs

Feature List
---------------------------
o interrupt driven buffered I/O to 115K baud
o ZMODEM, Kermit, XMODEM, YMODEM protocols
o OOP and procedural calling interfaces
o automatic flow control - XON/XOFF, CTS/RTS, DTR/DTS
o COM1-COM8 support with up to 4 ports open at once
o 16550 buffered UART support
o hardware interrupt sharing on PS/2 machines
o direct UART and BIOS-level device layers
o user-extensible device layers
o ANSI terminal emulation
o modem control including Hayes, V.32, V.42, and MNP5
o timer management functions
o trace and event logging facilities
o introductory and sophisticated demo programs
o popup help database
o complete source code
o free technical support
o no royalties

Async Professional Object Hierarchy
-----------------------------------
Root
AbstractPort
UartPort
Int14Port
(user defined port types)
AbstractProtocol
AsciiProtocol
XmodemProtocol
YmodemProtocol
ZmodemProtocol
KermitProtocol
ModemObj
TerminalObj

Price and Shipping Info
-----------------------
Dual Media (both 5.25" and 3.5" disks are supplied)
Version 1.00
Weight 2.0 pounds
Price $139 plus shipping
UPS Ground $5 Continental U.S. only (3-10 days)
UPS Blue $10 U.S. only (2-3 days)
UPS Red $20 U.S. only (1-2 days)
Airmail $5 U.S. only (3-10 days)
Airmail $10 Canada only (3-10 days)
Airmail $15 Europe only (7-14 days)
Airmail $20 Elsewhere (7-21 days)

Async Professional will be available for shipment in June 1991.

Async Professional began from the routines in the shareware LiteComm
package (although there is little remaining resemblance). Registered
LiteComm-Pascal owners may upgrade to Async Professional for $99 plus
shipping. Provide your LiteComm serial number.