Procomm Plus 2.0 for Windows
By Al Shing

NaSPA member Al Shing has more than 20 years computing experience, specializing in
operating systems programming and support. He is experienced in supporting PC
environments such as Microsoft Windows and MS-DOS, open systems environments such
as Unix, and large system environments such as MVS/ESA. He can be reached through
NaSCOM ID Shinalbk.

Callout: Communications programs, like modems, are a lot like shoes--they are a bit
rough when they are new, but once they have been broken in, they become comfortable
and you can use them for years.

      Communications programs, like modems, are a lot like shoes--they are a bit rough
when they are new, but once they have been broken in, they become comfortable and
you can use them for years. When the time comes to upgrade, you do not look forward
to breaking in a new program or modem because of the time and effort involved in
configuring and learning how to use them. Over time, you become accustomed to the
quirks, idiosyncrasies and shortcuts of the old program, and you feel lost when using a
new program.
      Perhaps this is why Datastorm upgrades their program so infrequently. I purchased
Procomm Plus 1.0 for Windows in June 1992. The first major upgrade of that program
comes more than two years later. Prior to Procomm Plus for Windows, I had used
Procomm Plus 1.1B for DOS since January 1990. Before the Windows version was
released, that program had not been updated over the two and a half years I used it. I
still use Procomm Plus 1.1B regularly to run a script that would not convert properly to
Procomm Plus 1.0 for Windows (this is the script that dials my phone in the morning to
wake me up). It is also handy to keep the DOS version around in case Windows fails to
start and I need to use a bulletin board system (BBS) to troubleshoot it.
      The trend in recent years has been to use specialized programs to access specific
on-line services. For example, CompuServe Information Manager for Windows and
TAPCIS are used for CompuServe access; Aladdin is used for GEnie; and America On-
line and Prodigy supply their own access programs. Many BBSes are using the RIP
graphics interface, which requires a RIP communications program for access. This
diminishes the usefulness of a general communications program such as Procomm Plus
for Windows, which continues to supply scripts for accessing all the major on-line
services, even though it is unlikely that one would use it today for accessing those
services. Nevertheless, there are many situations where the general communications
program is still useful, such as accessing a Unix shell account or dialing into a mainframe.
Perhaps as a response to the movement to specialized communications programs,
Procomm Plus for Windows 2.0 has added features above and beyond that expected of
a communications program.
      The strength of Procomm Plus has always been its ease of use, its support of
hundreds of popular modems and its low cost. That tradition, more or less, has been
carried forward into Procomm Plus 2.0 for Windows. The upgrade adds some useful
features, including fax modem support, the IND$FILE protocol for use with IBM
mainframes and network support. The upgrade also cleans up the user interface that was
a bit rough in the 1.0 release. In general, the interface is much improved and has
similarities to a Microsoft Office application interface. Unfortunately, a few useful features
were moved a level lower in the menu structure, making them harder to find and use.

Installation

      By default, Procomm Plus 2.0 for Windows (PROWIN2) installs itself into a new
directory separate from Version 1.0. It is a good idea to allow the installation program to
do so, so the existing working version can be relied upon to still function in case of
problems with the new version. The installation procedure attempts to autodetect the
modem and, if successful, will set itself up to use the appropriate modem initialization
commands for both the data and fax portions of the modem. The program was able to
autodetect my Practical Peripherals PM14400FXSA modem, but unable to autodetect my
older Practical Peripherals PM2400SA MNP5 modem. For this older modem, the
traditional procedure of selecting the modem from a long list was still available for
configuring the program to use the modem.
      One of the grievances with Version 1.0 was that it would not fill up the entire
available screen space when using a 1024x768 driver, but, instead, used a framed
window which filled up only about 75 percent of the space. Within this window, it used a
small, difficult to read font that could not be made larger. Version 2.0 offers a choice
during installation of a framed window or a full-screen window. Both choices use much
more of the available window space than did Version 1.0. With the larger window, Version
2 also uses a much larger font. The font is now changeable, and the product comes with
a selection of fonts, including some True Type fonts that can be used to replace the
default font.
      The installation process converts an existing dialing directory to the new format,
which now has room for fax and voice phone numbers, in addition to the traditional data
phone number for each entry. I found one or two of my phone numbers were
misconverted into long-distance calls when, in fact, they were local calls. These were
numbers that had a prefix code associated with them. In this case, the *70 code that
turns off call waiting. It would be a good idea to check each number after the conversion
to ensure that local calls do not become expensive long-distance calls.
      As with previous versions, the installation procedure runs a conversion procedure
to convert scripts from the previous version to the current version. Like the previous
version, this conversion procedure did not successfully convert my alarm script, which
produced a large number of errors when it was compiled. The conversion program will
not even look at Procomm Plus for DOS scripts by default. The program will think the
DOS version script is a Procomm Plus for Windows 1.0 script and will not convert it
correctly. Anyone migrating from Procomm Plus 1.1B should probably convert their
scripts to PROWIN 1.0 scripts first, and then convert the converted script to a PROWIN
2.0 script.
      The final step in installation is auto-registration of the program. Auto-registration
collects the appropriate name and address information from the user, and then dials a
toll-free number to register the program with Datastorm. Auto-registration is more
convenient than the conventional postcard method, which tends to be put off and
forgotten until the card is either lost or the next version of the program is due to be
released.

The Basics

      The dialing directory (Figure 1) has been expanded to include fax and voice
numbers, in addition to the usual data phone number. Information such as the area and
country codes have been split off from the main phone numbers. These are used if the
directory entry is set up to be a long-distance or international call. Otherwise, an entry can
be set up as an internal or local call. Each entry can be customized to use particular
terminal emulations, file transfer protocols, port settings, fonts and terminal colors, and
action bar buttons specific to working with each bulletin board. There is also room in the
directory entry for saving the user ID and password, company name, and notes about the
entry. Once the directory entry is set up, the entry appears in the Rapid Dial-Data list in
the action bar. Dialing the entry is as simple as selecting it with the mouse from the list.
      In Version 1.0, a button on the action bar had to be selected to scroll back in the
terminal window. During scroll back mode, it was not possible to send commands or data
to the serial port until scroll back mode was turned off. Text in the terminal window could
not be selected with the mouse unless the terminal was in scroll back mode. There was
also a limited number of pages that were retained for scroll back. Version 2.0 has
eliminated the scroll back mode, so it is always possible to scroll back in the terminal
window (Figure 2), for up to 1,300 pages (default 100 pages). Text in the terminal window
or scroll back buffer can be selected at any time with the mouse. Selecting text elicits a
pop-up box (Figure 3), with options to copy the selected text to the port, with or without
an Enter key, or copy it to a file or the Windows clipboard. There is an option to save the
entire scroll back buffer to a file, which is handy for capturing text that has been sent
without a capture file being opened. These features save a lot of typing because file
names or long Usenet newsgroup names can be selected from the scroll back buffer and
sent back to the port as part of a command.
      Downloads can be set up to start automatically, as soon as the BBS is ready to
send. Procomm Plus will automatically obtain the file name from the download protocol.
With this release, Zmodem downloads have the ability to crash recover from a failed
download, or overwrite or rename an existing file with the same name as the incoming
file. The previous release did not have crash recovery and aborted if an existing file had
the same name as the incoming file. If the incoming file is a .GIF (CompuServe's Graphics
Interchange File format) file, Procomm Plus can display the .GIF as it is being downloaded
with the included GIF viewer.
      Uploads are a little more difficult. They are not started automatically, but must be
started by selecting the Send File button on the action bar or selecting the Send File
option from the on-line menu. Procomm Plus will respond with the common dialog box
for selecting files (usually encountered when opening a file in a Windows program). The
drive letter, directory and, finally, the file name are selected with the dialog box, while the
BBS waits for the upload to begin. Double clicking the file name closes the dialog box and
begins the upload.
      At the bottom of the terminal window, a number of metakeys can be defined.
These keys can be selected with a mouse or hot-key sequence and result in a character
string associated with the metakey being typed into the port. Metakeys are defined via the
Setup dialog (Figure 4). As many as 40 such keys can be defined as a set, using the zero
through 9 keys, combined with the Alt, Alt-Shift, Alt-Ctrl and Alt-Shift-Ctrl keys. Each set
is saved as a .KEY file, and many such files can be created and saved. These keys are
useful for saving canned responses to prompts for user IDs, passwords, etc.
      The action bar has a selection list for scripts. Scripts can be written by the user,
and several are included with the product. The most useful of the supplied scripts is the
host script. This script establishes a rudimentary BBS (called host mode) running under
Procomm Plus for Windows, so defined users can dial up the system and transfer files.
Users are defined using the hostutil script, which is also supplied. The system can be
open (meaning new users can dial up and create accounts) or closed (so only predefined
users can log on to the system). With the host script, the system can be set up to answer
calls and determine if the call is a fax or data call. This feature is called adaptive answer.
      The Version 2.0 script language is enhanced from the Version 1.0 language and
is significantly different from the DOS script language. The language, called ASPECT,
borrows some elements from the C language and some elements from the PASCAL
language. Scripts must be compiled using the script compiler (ASPCOMPW.EXE) before
they can be run. The language contains support for modem dialing and sensing
operations, and for faxing operations. Scripts can have string and integer variables and
arrays, and can use a number of built-in functions or define their own procedures.

Fax Modem Operations

      Procomm Plus 2.0 for Windows supports a number of popular fax modems. The
initialization strings for these modems are contained in a file called WMODEMS.DAT. This
file is regularly updated and can be downloaded from Datastorm's BBS or CompuServe
forum to obtain support for new modems. If a particular modem is not contained in the
current WMODEMS.DAT file, the correct initialization string can be determined by
checking the modem's manual, or by contacting Datastorm or the modem manufacturer's
technical support number.
      Like Microsoft's At Work Fax support, Procomm Plus supports faxing by installing
a printer into Print Manager that can be selected by Windows programs. Faxing is then
performed by selecting the Procomm Plus Fax Printer in the Select Printer dialog that
generally appears in the File menu. Printing from the program will then bring up the fax
dialog (Figure 5). This dialog is where the recipient's fax number and addressing
information is specified, and a cover page is selected. The fax can be sent immediately
or scheduled for a specific time, such as when long-distance charges are lowest. Files
can also be faxed from within Procomm Plus for Windows, which has a menu for sending,
receiving and managing faxes. There is also a Fax Status applet used to check the status
of pending faxes and the fax modem. This applet can also start the dialog for sending and
receiving faxes.
      The host mode script has facilities for using the adaptive answer feature of fax
modems to distinguish between incoming faxes and data modem calls. This allows the
same modem and phone line to be set up to receive faxes and perform file transfers while
running unattended. In adaptive answer mode, the modem will first answer a call as if it
were a fax call. If connection is unsuccessful after a certain time period, the modem will
switch to data modem mode and attempt to connect to an incoming data call.
Unfortunately, Procomm Plus 2.0 for Windows has problems with this feature on my
modem, and the modem will not answer an incoming call at all when this mode is
selected. Auto-answer only works when the Data Only mode is selected. Datastorm and
the modem manufacturer (Practical Peripherals) are trying to resolve this problem.

Using the IND$FILE Protocol

      IND$FILE is a protocol used for transferring files between a PC and an IBM
mainframe. It works by breaking up the data and sending it as a screen of 3270 data, one
screen at a time. I use it extensively at the office over a direct coax connection to the
mainframe using Attachmate Extra! for Windows (Attachmate Corporation, Bellevue,
Wash.). The ability to transfer data between my home PC and the mainframe over a
modem is one of the most appealing features of this upgrade.
      I tested this feature by first connecting to IBM's IBMLink system over a modem and
transferring a file. I generally connect to IBMLink as a VT100 terminal and experience no
problems downloading using the IND$FILE protocol. Next, I connected to the office
mainframe and attempted the same operation. I like to use the TVI950 emulation for
connecting to the office, because the PC's function keys are mapped to the 3270
terminal's PF keys and is closer to using a real 3270 than the VT100 emulation. With a
VT100, PF keys are mapped to the ESC-n key sequence (e.g., ESC-1 is PF1, ESC-5 is
PF5, etc.) and requires two keystrokes instead of one for using a PF key. Unfortunately,
the IND$FILE protocol does not work with the TVI950 emulation. 
      The TVI950 and 3270 terminal emulations have a status bar at the bottom of the
screen that looks like the real 3270 terminal's status bar. This is the bar that has the
"clock" or "X-SYSTEM" status when the terminal is busy. The data for the status bar is
apparently sent with each screen of 3270 data and confuses the IND$FILE protocol.
Downloads and uploads kept failing with "Bad Block Number" messages. However, file
transfers were successful when I connected using the VT100 emulation. The scroll back
buffer for failed download and upload attempts using the TVI950 emulation were sent to
Datastorm for analysis and problem resolution.
      I did not find a completely satisfactory terminal emulation for connecting to a
mainframe. The TVI950 emulation does not map the Tab key on the PC to the 3270's Tab
key. The CTRL-F9 key must be used for the Tab function instead. The IBM3101 terminal
emulation did not map the 3270 Enter key to either the PC's Enter key or the right CTRL
key, which would generally be expected for a mainframe terminal emulation. The keys can
be remapped using a keyboard remapper utility, but I would expect the product should
be shipped using the key mappings that mainframe users would most likely prefer.

Conclusion

      Overall, Procomm Plus 2.0 for Windows is much improved over its predecessor.
I especially like the new scroll back buffer capabilities, which allows many more pages to
be retained and allows the data in the buffer to be captured, either by selecting portions
of it with the mouse or by saving the entire buffer as a file. The new faxing capability is
a nice feature for users who do not have a dedicated fax program or other faxing
capabilities, such as Microsoft At Work. The addition of IND$FILE should be a welcome
addition for users who work with IBM mainframes and would like to transfer files between
work and home.
      I have encountered several difficulties in getting some of the new functions to work.
In resolving these problems, I found the technical support personnel on the CompuServe
DATASTORM forum to be diligent in getting to the bottom of the problems. They never
failed to respond within a day or two with helpful advice that generally led to the solution.
When they could not provide a solution, they would report the problem to the developers.
Datastorm kept track of the message threads so the history of a problem and the actions
taken to resolve the problem were maintained. The quality of the support provided by
Datastorm is rare among vendors who provide on-line support. This reflects the quality
of the products Datastorm has produced in the past and in the current release of
Procomm Plus for Windows.

Contact Information

Datastorm
Procomm Plus 2.0 for Windows
address
city, state, zip
phone/fax

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Card No. .Figure 1: Procomm Plus 2.0 for Windows Terminal Window

Figure 2: Setup Dialog

Figure 3: Dialing Directory Entry

Figure 4: Selected Text Pop-Up Window

Figure 5: Send Fax Dialog