PowerTCP WebServer Tool

What is the WebServer Control? Think of it as a full-functioning Web Server right on a control. So instead of adding your logic to an existing Web Server engine, you add this "turn-key" Web Server to your application. You have complete control!

Ever wish you could write a complete Web Application using the richness of Visual Basic? Visual C++? Delphi? C++ Builder? PowerBuilder? Now you can! Why learn a new web-based development environment when you're already an expert in a state-of-the-art compiled language?

• Use any development environment that supports ActiveX controls -- you don't have to learn ASP programming, Cold Fusion, or any other web-based development environment!
• Re-use your existing client/server code -- just add the WebServer control to your application to publish any static or dynamic content
• Deploy your application anywhere with no additional licensing fees or run-time dependencies
• Since web applications can be run both remotely and locally, a single application can be developed for both global and local use
• Go for high-performance disk-less operation -- content can be constructed right in memory
• Add a web interface to ANY existing application for monitoring and control, or expose NT Services to your users
• Since you're in a strongly-typed language with class support, you can write your web app using well-documented, structured techniques
• Protect yourself from the limitations of web-based development environments -- don't be detered if you need numerous database tables open at the same time
• Secure connections are fully supported

The following objects provide you with the power of IIS on a single control:

• WebServer Control
  Just put this control on a form or dimension it for formless operation. Compile your application and it will, by default, automatically serve web pages off your hard drive. Add a little code and you have a powerful web application without learning a new web-based development environment.
• Service Control
  Use this control to install and run your web application as an NT service.
• Session Object
  Similar to the IIS Session Object, you can store variables associated with the session.
• Request Object
  Similar to the IIS Request Object, this object presents the request made by the client browser.
• Response Object
  Similar to the IIS Response Object, this object is used to construct a custom response that will be sent to the browser.
• Cookie Object
  A superior object representation for managing cookies on the server.
• DartStream Object
  A new way to easily manage files and buffers, this object handles file access and management so you don't have to.
• Certificate Object
  Exposes security certificates present on your server.
• CertificateStore Object
  Exposes all certificates present within a specified certificate store (Local Machine, Current User, etc).
• More
  Additional collection and management objects ease your web application development task.

Benefits & Features

• Apply the robust power of Visual Basic or any other development environment to the development of your web applications.
• Listen on ANY port/address combination, so you can host multiple web applications on a single server.
• Default operation is powerful, with requested web pages automatically loaded before the Get Event fires.
• Events fire as each GET, HEAD, POST, PUT or general request arrives...you just add processing code to the events you want to respond to.
• Deploy FAST applications by building responses in memory (bypass slow disk access).
• Deployment is a snap: just compile and build a normal distribution, install the compiled web application on your server, and optionally install it as a service.
• Debugging is easy. You can easily set breakpoints within your application and exercise it from your workstation using any browser.
• All the benefits listed in the PowerTCP Overview .

PowerTCP Overview

These quality tools represent state-of-the-art component design. Our customers deserve nothing less:

• Components are "lean and mean" ActiveX (ATL) controls and simple COM objects with no dependence on large run-time DLLs.
• All tools include and use an unlicensed DartStream Object that simplifies and improves file-access performance (especially under VB).
• Most controls are invisible -- perfect for B2B applications.
• Controls can be placed on forms OR dynamically instantiated, making them perfect for form-based environments like Visual Basic AND formless environments like ASP (Active Server Pages).
• Dependency (.dep) files are included for all controls, fully supporting Microsoft's Package & Deployment Wizard.

Blocking behavior is optional, so applications can be written using blocking or non-blocking operation. Scripting languages like VB Script and Java Script are fully supported. Perfect for ASP (Active Server Pages)!

• Apartment Model Threading provides multi-thread support for the most demanding applications.
• Advanced Programming Object Model speeds development -- collection properties provide superior list handling, formatting objects make it easier to manipulate complex structures (like MIME and SNMP messages), and the use of enumerated types and objects makes your job as simple as it should be.
• Debugging support is built in, simplifying interoperability trouble-shooting.

IIS Comparison

• Application object is superceded with your global variables.
• ObjectContext object is superceded with direct access to MTS.
• Server object is superceded with direct access to the environment.
• Request object is replaced with Dart's improved Request Object:

Certificate Object provides more help determining the attributes of the client certificate.

PUT and GET requests are routinely handled by a convenient DartStream Object.

Full file support for "multipart/form-data" sent as part of a POST request.

Cookies Object provides parsing support for cookie values and sub-values.

Form data is parsed and presented as a collection of HttpVariable Objects.

• Response object is replaced with Dart's improved Response Object:

Response Object is pre-filled with the default response.

Convenient DartStream Object makes it easy to respond with strings or files.

Enumerated Status property simplifies use, and pre-fills StatusText with default values.

Header is exposed as a collections, and default values are automatically used unless overridden by your code.

• Session object is replaced with Dart's improved Session Object:

SessionInit and SessionEnd events support initialization and termination.

Session cookies automatically manage sessions.

HttpVariables Object supports use of any Variant for state management.

Scalability

• All events fire on a single thread for maximum throughput for light-to-medium loading.
• For high loading, MTS and multi-threaded classes can be used for constructing lengthy responses on dedicated threads, allowing the main thread to freely operate.
• Responses can be constructed entirely in memory, providing the fastest possible response times (single-threaded operation is fasted for light-to-medium loading).
• Multiple applications can be written and installed on separate address/port pairs, so large applications can be easily partitioned to run as any number of individual tasks, all on dedicated threads.

Sample Projects

• Web Server
  A secure Web Server that can be configured to listen on any port. Visual Basic 6.0.
• Cookie Test
  Shows how to check for client-side cookie support, and how to set/read cookies on the client. Visual Basic 6.0.
• Web FAQ
  Shows how a simple DAO database can be interactively edited and used to display dynamic content. Visual Basic 6.0.

Potential Web Applications

• Internet applications generating streaming audio/video media.
• Add a web interface to ANY existing application you want to monitor/control.
• Forum software allows visitors to share information.
• Intranet applications can be easily built for any internal function.
• Construct a Web portal for any information you wish to share with the world.
• Start with any existing client/server functionality, and publish this information using any HTML template.
• Provide a configuration and control interface to any hardware product.

Compatibilities

• Development Environments: Visual Basic, Visual C++, C++Builder, Delphi, PowerBuilder and other environments that supports ActiveX (ATL) controls.
• Operating Systems: NT4, NT 2000.

Customer Feedback

• "Just to tell you that your WebServer product is just wonderful. Thanks to it I am now smiling when I develop web applications...My wife is happy too!"
  Christian Nicaud
• "Your PowerTCP WebServer Tool seems too good to be true! I'll be in touch."
  Charlie Koch