Welcome to Data Transfer Services communications tools and utilities by datanex, Inc.

This software is a programmer's utility which will provide programmers with a simple set of subroutines in dynamically linked libraries, which will allow writing client/server transaction programs that communicate over the internet/intranet using TCP/IP. The subroutines may be called from any supported high level language and do not require any knowledge of the Internet protocol.

To install this software, place the zip file into an empty temporary directory, unzip it and run setup.exe to perform the first part of the installation.

Status: demo, non-distributable.

The original version of this software was designed to provide a Common Interface for writing communications programs for both the IBM AS/400 and the Digital Equipment Corporation VAX using IBM's System Network Architecture communications subset pu2.1, lu6.2 peer-to-peer. Utilities for file transfer, remote command submission and print services were written using the Common Interface Subroutines. At the time, this functionality between the two platforms was unique. As the popularity of the Internet increased, datanex decided to provide the same Common Interface for TCP/IP. We have kept the utilities for the convenience of our customers, many of who have switched to the TCP/IP version of the software.

More recently, TCP/IP support for 32 bit Windows has been added so that communication among all supported systems can be programmed using a few subroutines that appear identical on all machines. While much useful work can be accomplished using the utilities, the strength of the software is that it allows programmers to write client/server programs without any knowledge of the underlying communications protocols. Everything is taken care of in the dynamically linked libraries.

The installation procedure you have just completed may require administrator intervention prior to using the product. Please read the installation documentation before proceeding. We have provided documentation in both Microsoft Word and plain text formats. The documentation will be found in the "examples" subdirectory.

If you have downloaded the demonstration version of the software, please be advised that the subroutine CITALK, send data, has been restricted in the number of times that it can be called prior to forcing an error condition. This will render all of the provided utilities except the prototyper, ci.exe, inoperative and will not allow you to produce truly useful programs until one of the dynamic link libraries is replaced. The prototyper can be accessed easily from the main menu, ci_main.exe.

Examples written in Microsoft's Visual C++ and Visual Basic are provided to show how the dynamically linked libraries are called. They are to be found in the examples subdirectory.

Please do work with the prototyper. We have found it extremely useful in learning how the software works and in designing your applications.

Please note that this software is available for IBM AS/400 computers and Compaq (DEC) computers running the VMS operating system as well. The appearance and functionality of the subroutines are identical on all platforms and can be used with any high level language supported by the computer provider. For more details, visit our web site, www.datanex.com.

For technical support/questions, contact Rick Marsh at 541 484 9419, we are located on the west coast, or email him at rick.marsh@datanex.com. To purchase software, please contact Pete Brooks at 541 687 5680. We want to hear from you to discuss your application needs.
