The SocketWrench custom control provides network communication services for your Visual Basic application using a third-party TCP/IP protocol stack and compatible Windows Sockets library. The control offers the following features:
Client and server functionality in a single control
Support for blocking and non-blocking socket operations
Convenient "text" mode for receiving data a line at a time
Support for both stream and datagram protocols
Send and receive urgent (out-of-band) data
Instead of using API calls, virtually all socket functions can be performed by setting control properties and responding to events. For those developers who are not familiar with the details of socket programming, SocketWrench can also insulate them from many of the common pitfalls, without sacrificing functionality or flexibility. A tutorial is included with the package that introduces the basic concepts and walks you through building a sample application that functions both as an echo client and server.
The package includes the control itself, sample programs (including a simple FTP client application), a help file and documentation in Microsoft Word 6 format. It requires Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later and Visual Basic 3.0 or later. Also required is a Windows Sockets 1.1 compliant DLL.
The control is freeware and may be included, royalty free, in any application. Technical support is available via e-mail on MSN, CompuServe, America Online or the Internet.
