CrystalCOMM for WIN32 (NT/WIN95/WIN98/Windows2000/Windows XP) is a communication library for the
NT, Windows95, Windows98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, and Windows XP operating systems.
This library allows the developer to add asynchronous serial port communications capabilities
to their application.
This library is in the form of several DLLs so that the library can be
called from Access, Visual Basic, Paradox, C/C++, SmallTalk, Delphi, FoxPro, SqlBASE, dBFast,
Oracle, PowerBuilder, Clipper, Turbo Pascal, and an enormous number of other 4GL languages
in the Windows environment. Any language that can call a DLL function passing an integer, a
long, or a pointer to a string can use CrystalCOMM for WIN32. The library allows you to
simply move characters through a COM interface, to develop scripts to communicate between
client and host, or to take advantage of the built-in protocols within the library to send
or receive files through a modem.
The library enables
the developer to build custom applications
using file transfer facilities, remote host control capability, electronic messaging, electronic mail,
bulletin board systems, remote data or file access, Internet FTP file transfers, and related communication
interfaces. CrystalCOMM allows you to control up to 256 COM ports each up to a speed of 460K baud.
CrystalCOMM can also encrypt and compress the communications stream so that the communication path
is both secured and efficient. CrystalCOMM for WIN32 takes care of your communication needs, your
encryption needs, and your compression needs, all in one library. CrystalCOMM contains a database
of modems so that you can easily integrate your product with a variety of modems, or you can use
our TAPI interface to let the operating system set your modem up for you.
CrystalCOMM New Features for CrystalCOMM for WIN32 version 5.28
- Support for HTTPS secure file transfers.
CrystalCOMM now supports HTTPS secure protocol for sending and receiving files.
- On the fly setup for RAS dialup parameters.
CrystalCOMM now allows you to set up the dialing parameters for a dialup connection with the
Internet on the fly.
- Support for batch processing of FTP files.
You can now upload and download files to FTP sites using wild-cards.
- VB.NET support.
New Interface definitions and example programs for VB.NET
- C#.NET support.
New Interface definitions and 4 new example programs for C#.NET with
CrystalCOMM class interface
- Tested and Supported on XP platforms
- File Compression Functions (up to 90% compression)
- Enhanced 512 bit Encryption Functions
To secure the information that you are sending, we have added a simple API to
encrypt and decrypt buffers, strings, or files. We now support up to 512 bit encryption
through a very fast algorithm. This allows you to protect the information you are communicating,
even over the Internet.
- TAPI
Now you can take advantage of TAPI capabilities with the CrystalCOMM library. You can enumerate
TAPI devices (modems) on your system and you can connect to another system using one of your
TAPI devices. TAPI allows your modem (TAPI device) to be initialized according to the systems
settings for that modem, avoiding the pains in knowing or finding out a good init string for
that modem. TAPI will also allow you to open shared TAPI devices when they are not in use.
Our TAPI implementation allows you to dial out for a connection or go into Auto-Answer mode.
- Internet FTP, HTTP, HTTPS, Host VISA, VISA II, HOST TAP Protocols
- Expanded 2400 Modem Database
- Modem auto-setup process
- Background thread file transfers
- Peek Functions
- Notify Functions
- Developer Update Subscription
Subscribe to this new option and you receive two additional updates to CrystalCOMM over the next year.
These update maintenance releases will be mailed out to you automatically at six-month intervals.
If staying up with the latest fixes and improvements is important to you, then the developers
update subscription is ideal for you.
CrystalCOMM Features and Benefits
Library is in form of DLLs
This allows you to simply distribute the DLLs with your application with no
run-time royalty. You can call the DLL functions from virtually any Windows language.
High Level Calls
CrystalCOMM provides high level communication calls that make your development
effective and powerful. As an example, our scripting calls (ComStimulus( ))
allows you to look for a string to come in the port, and automatically sends a response
string to the other side. This allows you to easily connect and control a BBS with a
few scripting calls. Our peek functions allow you to peek for characters or particular
strings that may have come into the port buffer. Our file transfer protocols allow you
to send or receive packet at a time so that you can keep several sessions or transfers
going concurrently from the same application. For C/C++ programers we even provide
message or callback events for particular characters or strings that may have come
into the port. This is power.
Language Support
CrystalCOMM can be called from C, C++, C#.NET, Visual Basic, VB.NET, Delphi,
Turbo Pascal for Windows, SmallTalk, GUPTA SQLbase, Paradox, Power Builder,
dBFast, Access, FoxBase, xBASE, and a number of other Windows languages. CrystalCOMM
for WIN32 is written in C for performance and portability purposes. Numerous example
programs are provided in the package in C, C#.NET, VB.NET, Access, Visual Basic, and
Visual FoxPro. Function definition files are provided for C/C++, C#, Access, Centura
SQLWIN, dBASE, Delphi, Visual Basic, VB.NET, Pascal, PowerBuilder, Paradox, Oracle,
xBASE, Visual FoxPro, and Visual Objects.
Thread Safe
CrystalCOMM for WIN32 is designed and built for the NT, Windows95, Windows98, Windows ME,
Windows 2000, and Windows XP 32 bit operating system environments. The DLLs are designed
to be thread safe and callable from multiple threads concurrently. CrystalCOMM itself
spins off a user controllable thread to handle the low level port interface. CrystalCOMM
will naturally take advantage of multiple processors if provided.
THUNKING
CrystalCOMM for WIN32 provides both a set of 32 bit DLLs so that 32 bit languages and
tools can access the functions as well as a set of 16 bit DLLs that THUNK up to the 32
bit DLLs. This allows 16 bit languages to use CrystalCOMM for WIN32 in the WIN32
environments. This also allows the developer to develop a single 16 bit application
that will run in all WIN32 environments with no change to the application. You simply
replace the DLLs for the different environments using the CrystalCOMM for Windows as
well as the CrystalCOMM for WIN32 products.
TAPI
We allow you to connect to the port or to another site using TAPI. TAPI allows you to
use the systems knowledge of the modem and initialization setup in establishing the
connection. CrystalCOMM also allows you to come up in Auto-Answer mode with TAPI,
something the few other libraries will allow you to do.
Numerous Protocols
CrystalCOMM provides a number of Communication protocols, including XMODEM, YMODEM,
ZMODEM, KERMIT, Super KERMIT, CompuServe B+, TAP (electronic pager protocol),
TAP HOST protocol (for the host end of electronic paging), VISA (financial transaction
protocol), VISA II, VISA NET, VISA HOST (the host end of the VISA protocol), CRYSTAL
(our own super high performance messaging and file transfer protocol), and the Internet
FTP and HTTP protocols. Functions are provided to even operate the protocols on background threads.
Internet FTP Control
CrystalCOMM for WIN32 provides the FTP and HTTP Internet Communication protocols.
Functions allow you to autodial and connect to the Internet, connect to an FTP
(or HTTP) site, change or add or delete directories, rename or delete or send or
receive files in either binary or ASCI mode, and enumerate the files with file attributes
within an FTP directory. Functions are provided to even operate the FTP protocol on background
threads. HTTP allows your to both send or receive files in either binary or ASCI mode from the HTTP site.
Modem Database
CrystalCOMM contains a modem database and associated API for over 2400 modems. This allows
you to have access to the unique initialization strings, reset strings, c ompression control
strings, error control strings and flow control strings for each modem.
Vendor Support
CrystalCOMM supports a number of COM add on boards including DigiBoard, COMTROL, and others.
Any board that provides a WIN32 compatible driver is supported.
Communication Security
CrystalCOMM provides a powerful byte scrambling security control so that all data and files
transfered are transparently encrypted and decrypted at both ends. We now support up to
512 bit encryption for files that are to be sent. Our fast encryption algoritym will
encrypt/decrypt megabyte files in less than a second. Functions are provided to encrypt strings,
buffers, and files.
Compression
CrystalCOMM provides a powerful compression routine to compress you files before you send them.
This provides more sophisticated compression than modems achieve so that you are ultimately
sending your files faster.
No Run-Time Royalties
CrystalCOMM for WIN32 is licensed on a per developer basis. Our DLLs are distributed with your
application at no additional charge.
Source Available
The source code for our library is available with our source code version. Note that the source
for all example programs is in both the object version as well as the source version.
Comprehensive Manual
CrystalCOMM for WIN32 comes with a manual containing tutorial information and reference
material on each of the function calls within the library.
Free Technical Support
Crystal Software provides excellent technical support and advice at no additional charge.
You will not believe the quality of technical support Crystal Software provides.