Comm++ -- C++ class library for countless serial comm applications

Comm++

Removes the Grunt Work -- So You Can Do Your Job Easier, Faster and Even Better

Comm++ paves the way to robust object oriented programming of serial communications in applications for a wide range of platforms -- you get platform independence. Comm++ includes abstract base and derived classes which perform all of the functions needed for your communications jobs.

Summary

Award winning class library for asynchronous communications for Windows, Win32s, Windows NT, DOS, Extended DOS, NASI - with more, More, MORE.

Greenleaf Comm++™ paves the way to robust object oriented programming of serial communications in applications for a wide range of platforms -- you get platform independence. Comm++ includes abstract base and derived classes which perform all of the functions needed for your communications jobs. Comm++ removes the grunt work -- so you can do your job easier, faster, even better.

Overview

Pure C++ class library with an arsenal of over 460 public calls in the API gives you the industry’s most extensive shot at both rapid application development and extending or customizing the library for your needs
Supports Windows 3.1x, NT 3.5x, Win32s, MS-DOS, NASI for Novell NACS Server, DESQview, Borland PowerPack, Tenberry DOS/4G and Phar Lap TNT DOS extenders
Interrupt driven, circular-buffered input and output number of simultaneous ports limited only by hardware
Baud rates to 115,200
Can use any popular C++ compiler - Visual C++, Borland C++, Watcom C++ to name but a few
File transfer protocols include ZModem, YModem, XModem, Kermit, CompuServe B+ and ASCII
Windows WM_COMMNOTIFY event notification
Win32 Wait for Comm Event capabilities
Terminal emulations include PC-ANSI, VT100, VT52, TTY
Hardware choices includes normal COM ports via BIOS, Extended BIOS, direct to UART, Windows 3.1x and Win32, intelligent Digi, Star Gate, and Arnet multiport boards, and many non-intelligent multiport boards
16550 UART FIFO trigger level control
Handshaking includes RTS/CTS, DSR/DTR, and XON/XOFF
ANSI, VT100, VT52, and TTY terminal emulations included
Data format class included to encapsulate port parameters for data
Modem control methods for ease of use with standard AT command set
Selectable screen driver classes for flexibility in terminal emulations and apps. TextWindows for Windows 3.x MDI and Windows NT, Windows NT Console, and DOS
Extensive error code system plus easily built debug library versions smooth application development
NO Royalties!
FREE non-shrouded source code in C++ and assembly
Printed manuals plus Help systems
Examples for every public function that compile and run -- in Help and as source files NO Royalties!
Base classes documented so that you can extend the library

Features & Benefits

Platforms, APIs

Supports Windows 3.1x, NT 3.5x, Win32s, MS-DOS, NASI for Novell NACS Server, DESQview, Borland PowerPack™, Tenberry DOS/4G™, and Phar Lap TNT™ DOS extenders.

Pure C++ class library with an arsenal of over 460 public calls in the API gives you the industry’s most extensive shot at both rapid application development and extending or customizing the library for your needs.

USB Connections

Tested with I/O Networks EdgePort, HubPort USB hardware using Windows comm driver

Greenleaf will continue to do the grunt work so you don't have to.

Power and versatility

This class library provides powerful tools for all aspects of asynchronous comm programming for all major PC-based platforms.

Combine file transfers with Hayes modem controls, add ANSI, VT100, VT52, or "glass teletype" terminal emulation, select an appropriate screen driver and a platform driver.

>You can drive any number of simultaneous ports on standard or intelligent multiport boards!

Select XON/XOFF, RTS/CTS, or DSR/DTR handshaking, along with powerful file transfer protocols!

You can select screen drivers and add onto the base classes yourself to create entirely new communications functionality for your applications! Start with Comm++, end on time, within budget!

Sophisticated building blocks

Comm++ begins with abstract base classes which could be any kind of serial communications -- not necessarily hardware -- and builds onto this support for the 8250 (and 16550) series UART, DigiBoard standard and intelligent boards, Arnet and Star Gate intelligent multiport hardware, and interfaces with Microsoft Windows.

Your application will first create an instance of one of the platform / hardware classes, GFI8250, GFDigiPC, GFComOS2, GFComWin3, GFComWin32, GFSmartDigiBoard, GFSmartArnet, GFSmartStarGate -- or the Novell NASI driver, GFNasi.

Then you need to create a generic serial port control object of class GFSerial. This combination forms the basis for any kind of program using asynchronous communications.

Classes like GFVt100, GFAnsiTerminal, GFTeletype, and GFVt52 are derived from GFSerial, so all you need do to implement an ANSI terminal in the above program is substitute one line of code and add one to define the type of display driver you want to use, as illustrated below:

Easy to use

Below is a short program that runs under MS-DOS that provides full-duplex 9600 baud communications on COM1.
#include
#include "compplib.hpp"
main( void )
{
     int c;
     GFI8250 sio( COM1 ); // serial port on COM1
     GFSerial cp( &sio );         // open the port
     for ( ; ; ) {
          if (gfkbhit() {
               c = getkey();
               if ( c == ESC )
                    return;
               else
                    cp << c; // output to port } cp> > c; // get char from port
          if ( c != GF_TIMEOUT ) // display input
               putc( c, stdout );
     }
}

To switch to an ANSI terminal emulation, do this:
Add:..............GFScreenVid vid;
Change:...........GFSerial cp( &sio)
To:...............GFAnsiTerminal cp( &vid, &sio )

Powerful yet friendly

Number of simultaneous ports limited only by hardware.

Extensive error code system plus easily built debug library versions smooth application development.

Baud rates to 115,200

Development Platforms

Win32, Win16.

Visual C++ 1.52, 4.0, 5.0, and above, Borland C++, Microsoft C/C++ 7.0, Watcom C++, Symantec C++.

Target Platforms

MS-DOS

16- and 32-bit Extended DOS

Windows 95, 98, NT 3.51, 4.0, and Windows 2000

Windows 3.1x, Windows for Workgroups 3.11

Novell NASI

DOS Extender Support

If you target a DOS environment, you know that DOS extenders are a way to gain more useful memory. We support Borland PowerPack and VROOM, 16- and 32-bit Tenberry, and Phar Lap extenders.

Communications Hardware

COM1..COM4 (ISA / EISA), or COM1..COM8 (MCA systems).

Digi DigiCHANNEL™ non-intelligent multiport board support (MS-DOS).

Intelligent Digi, Arnet, & Star Gate multiport board support.

Classes for BIOS and Extended BIOS support (MS-DOS).

Comm++ fully supports 8250, 16550, and compatible chips. It also supports many brands and models of intelligent and non-intelligent multiport communications hardware.

16550 FIFO support

16550 UART FIFO trigger level control.

Communications Parameters

Baud rates to 115,200

Odd, Even, No parity, plus Mark (Stick) and Space (Stick) parity

5, 6, 7, or 8 data bits

1, 1 1/2, or 2 stop bits

Flow Control & Handshaking

XON/XOFF software, RTS/CTS and DSR/DTR hardware handshaking.

Helping You Get Up and Running Fast

Comprehensive error return system, so if something breaks you can easily determine the locus and cause.

Lots of examples in source and in Help system.

Any number of serial ports in a PC

From a software standpoint, the number of ports is virtually unlimited (dependent upon hardware only).

Interrupt driven, circular-buffered input and output

Intelligent and non-intelligent board support

Drives Arnet, DigiBoard and Star Gate intelligent multi-port boards. Use RS-485 interface on some Star Gate boards.

Supports many non-intelligent multi-port boards including DigiBoard, Arnet, Star Gate, Contec, Qua Tech, Fastcom, AST, BocaBoard, SeaLevel, and Hostess.

Standard file transfer protocols

Abstract GFFileIO class for access to file I/O operations & properties.

Comprehensive port controls

XModem, including CRC and Checksum, 1K and G variants.

YModem, plus YModem-G, with subdirectory recursion, strip path, and other options.

ZModem (16- or 32-bit CRC), with crash-recovery, subdirectory recursion, sliding window, and file management options.

Kermit file transfer protocol with RLE compression, 8-bit prefixing, and subdirectory recursion.

CompuServe B+ file transfer with checksum, 16- or 32-bit CRC, strip path, and resume download options.

ASCII file transfer, with subdirectory recursion (send multiple files) and line feed strip options.

Terminal emulation

ANSI, VT100, VT52, and TTY terminal emulations included.

Comprehensive screen driver classes provide maximum flexibility for terminal emulations and your application. TextWindows™ for Windows 3.x MDI and Windows NT, Windows NT Console, and DOS; Greenleaf DataWindows™, and Symantec-specific class.