commsService is a easy-to-use, point-and-click shareware application for the Macintosh that provides a “rolodex” like communications facility. The application provides facilities for recording the details of commonly used communications connections/sessions as a series of parameters on an individual “card”. Once the details have been recorded the name of the card (connection/session) then appears in a scrolling list on the menu screen. Repeated connections may then be made simply by double clicking on the name of the required connection in the scrolling list.
The ease of use of the interface and the power of the scripting language make this an ideal communications application for the classroom and/or computer lab.
The details recorded on a communications “card” are referred to as a “service”. A service is defined as any process running on a local or remote computer, eg. an Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) or a Campus Wide Information System (CWIS). Each service is uniquely defined via a series of 15 parameters that describe attributes such as the name, the method used to connect to the service, the login and logout scripts, etc.
The application permits multiple, simultaneous sessions to be active at any one time. A typical session might therefore include a serial connection to your local OPAC in one window, whilst another window displays information from a CWIS, and a third displays a remote network connection to a second OPAC.
The application utilises the power of HyperCard’s scripting language, HyperTalk to provide a powerful communication scripting facility. It achieves this by defining a series of communication specific language extensions that enable scripts to communicate directly with services.
commsService is based upon Apple’s Communications Toolbox technology, consequently connectivity is only limited by the range of Connection and Terminal Emulation tools that are available on your machine. (NB. The application comes bundled with several tools including a public domain tcp/ip/telnet tool and Apple's VT102 terminal emulation tool).
commsService is AppleScriptable.
commsService may be used as the 'telnet application' with Netscape.
Once a series of services have been defined, a copy of the application may be made and then “locked” to prevent access to the service definition cards. This is particularly useful for those circumstances where the end users are to be prevented from seeing/modifying the service details.
commsService may be downloaded from :
sumex-aim.stanford.edu ==> info-mac/comm/term
mac.archive.umich.edu ==> mac/util/comm
What You Need To Run commsService.
---------------------------------
In order to run commsService 2.0.2 and activate any of the example services you will need a Macintosh with the following installed software :
a) System 7.0 or later
and, if you wish to launch any of the tcp/ip network examples
b) MacTCP 1.1 or later
What You Must Do To Run commsService.
------------------------------------
You must Install the CONTENTS of the "Comms Tools" folder. To do this, simply select and drag the entire CONTENTS of the "Comms Tools" folder to the System folder. System 7 will then take over and install the items appropriately.
Contact Address.
----------------
Tim Barlow.
G.P.O. Box 607
Sandy Bay
Tasmania
Australia 7005.
email - tim.barlow@lib.utas.edu.au
Machines Tested
---------------
commsService has been tested, without error, on the following machines - Apple IIsi, Classic, LCII, LCIII, LC475 and a PowerPC 7100/66AV.
Legal Stuff.
-----------
The commsService Software was written by Tim Barlow.
THOSE PORTIONS OF THE SOFTWARE THAT ARE COPYRIGHTED BY APPLE COMPUTER, INC., NAMELY THE BASIC CONNECTIVITY SET OF COMMS. TOOLBOX TOOLS, HAVE BEEN LICENCED BY TIM BARLOW AND ARE FOR USE WITH COMMSSERVICE ONLY.
THOSE PORTIONS OF THE SOFTWARE THAT ARE COPYRIGHTED BY APPLE COMPUTER, INC., NAMELY THE BASIC CONNECTIVITY SET OF COMMS. TOOLBOX TOOLS MAY NOT BE COPIED OR REDISTRIBUTED SEPERATELY WITHOUT A LICENCE FROM APPLE COMPUTER INC.
The MacTCP™ and Communications Toolbox™ software are copyrighted by Apple
Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.
AppleTalk® and Macintosh® are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
LocalTalk™, MacTCP™ and Communications Toolbox™ are trademarks of Apple
Computer, Inc.
HyperCard is a registered trademark of Claris Corporation.
All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective corporations.
No charge may be levied for this program, nor may it be included as part of any package sold for profit without express authorisation from the author. It may be distributed freely via BBSs and other electronic data services that do not explicitly charge for file downloads, that is, do not charge a per file rate as opposed to a per hour rate. Further, no service or distributor may attach additional restrictions to this program or to its distribution. This program must be distributed complete with all documentation and additional programs.
Use of the commsService software and other software and fonts accompanying your license (the "Software") and its documentation is at your sole risk. The
Software and its documentation, and Tim Barlow's software maintenance and
extended maintenance, if applicable, are provided "AS IS" and without
warranty of any kind and Tim Barlow and Tim Barlow's Licensor(s), including but
not limited to Tim Endres and Apple Computer, Inc. (collectively herein referred to as "Tim Barlow"), EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND AGAINST INFRINGEMENT. TIM BARLOW DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE SOFTWARE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, OR THAT THE OPERATION OF THE SOFTWARE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT DEFECTS IN THE SOFTWARE WILL BE CORRECTED. FURTHERMORE, TIM BARLOW DOES NOT WARRANT OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE OR ITS DOCUMENTATION IN TERMS OF THEIR CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY TIM BARLOW OR A TIM BARLOW AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE SHALL CREATE A WARRANTY OR IN ANY WAY INCREASE THE SCOPE OF THIS WARRANTY. SHOULD THE SOFTWARE PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU (AND NOT TIM BARLOW OR A TIM BARLOW AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE), ASSUMES THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, SHALL TIM BARLOW AND HIS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS
PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION AND THE LIKE) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE OR ITS DOCUMENTATION, EVEN IF TIM BARLOW OR A TIM BARLOW AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE HAS
BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY.
In no event shall Tim Barlow's total liability to you for all damages, losses,
and causes of action (whether in contract, tort [including negligence] or
otherwise) exceed the amount paid for the Software and its documentation
