The PortConnector™ software enables all your communication applications to employ Communication Toolbox (CTB) Connection Tools, and TCP/IP streams instead of modems or direct serial links. Old applications can be used for communicating through X.25, TCP/IP, ISDN and any other network supported with a Connection Tool. As a result, you can connect to your office network using AppleTalk Remote Access through ISDN or TCP/IP, you can use old terminal emulators with TCP/IP, ADSP, X.25, etc.
The PortConnector software can emulate a serial port using some other serial port, thus enabling access to all CTB-registered serial ports (like PCMCIA modems) for applications supporting only the built-in Modem and Printer ports.
PortConnector requires System 7.0 or better.
------------------ How it works ------------------------
PortConnector creates so-called "virtual ports" and registers them with CTB, so all applications that provide you with a list of the registered serial ports (like ARA, America Online, etc) can use those virtual ports. For old applications that support only the built-in modem and printer ports, PortConnector can redefine the built-in ports with its virtual ports.
When creating a new virtual port you select the connection method to use: a CTB Connection Tool (like those Telnet, ISDN, X.25 and other Connection Tools), a TCP/IP stream, or just another serial port.
After a virtual port is created with the PortConnector control panel, it can be configured. If Connection Tools are used for emulation, the standard "Connection Settings" dialog box appears and allows you to select a Tool and to configure it.
For TCP/IP streams, you should enter the name of the host to connect to, and the port number (usually you will use telnet port, 23). If you want to use PortConnector to receive incoming connections (for example, to put your BBS on Internet), you specify the tcp port number to be used for incoming connections.
For Serial Port linking, the only option available is the pop-up menu listing all serial ports on your computer. When you select a serial port, that port becomes "linked" to the virtual port created.
For example, if you want to use your application that supports only Modem and Printer port with your PCMCIA modem, you create the Virtual Printer port with PortConnector, using the "Provide Access to CTB Serial Port" option. When the virtual printer port is created, you select the PCMCIA modem port in the pop-up menu, and close PortConnector. Now, when you select the Printer Port option in your application, the virtual printer port will be used instead, and PortConnector will redirect it to the PCMCIA modem.
When CTB Tool or TCP/IP streem is used, PortConnector can process a virtual port in either of two modes: "modem emulation" or "direct link".
When the "modem emulation" option is selected, PortConnector emulates a regular modem attached to that virtual port, i.e. it processes and responds to modem (ATxxx) commands sent through the port. The Connection Tool is activated or TCP stream is created as soon as the virtual port is opened. Using the CTB Connection or TCP calls, PortConnector initiates "listening", and when an incoming connection request is detected, it emulates an incoming call on the "virtual modem". When the application using such a virtual port sends a dialing (ATDxxx) command through the port, PortConnector sends a request to the Connection Tool or to the TCP driver trying to establish a connection.
When the "direct link" option is selected, PortConnector tries to establish a connection as soon as an application opens the port, without any modem emulation.
Use the Balloon Help™ with the PortConnector control panel to learn about all options supported.
-------------------------- Demo version ----------------------------------
This demo version of PortConnector has limited session time: each connection closes in 2 minutes.
1. Place the PortConnector file into the "Control Panels" folder.
2. Restart.
3. Open the PortConnector control panel.
4. Click the New button to create a virtual port.
5. If you want to use non-CTB-compatible applications with a Connection Tool, select the "Virtual Modem" option. In this case when a non-CTB-compatible application opens the modem port, it opens this virtual port instead. You can select the "Virtual Printer" option to redefine the printer port. This is better, since your real Modem port remains available for all applications. But some old applications can work with the Modem port only, so you cannot use the Virtual Printer port with them. If you create the Virtual Printer port, do not forget to select the "Printer Port" option in your application.
For use with CTB-compatible applications you can select the "CTB device" option and enter a name for the virtual port to be created. Later you should select that port in your CTB-compatible application.
6. Select the connection method to use with this virtual port (see above).
7. Click OK. The icon for the virtual port created should appear in the left section of the PortConnector control panel. Now you can set the connection settings.
8. For Connection Tool method, configure the Connection Tool, for TCP streams, enter the name of the remote host and the tcp port numbers, for CTB ports - select the port you want to use.
9. Repeat steps 4-8 if you want to create several virtual ports.
10. Close the control panel.
If you want to modify the Connection Tool configuration string manually, press the Option key when the PortConnector panel is open. Click the Edit button to edit the configuration string.
• 2.0.1: bug fix (some machines crashed when the New button was clicked)
• 2.0: the TCP/IP Streams and CTB SWerial Port support has been added
• 1.3: added the Virtual Printer support for PowerBooks with one built-in port
• 1.1: the PortConnector control panel displays an alert box if there is no Connection tool installed; the compaibility problem w/SuperATM™ has been solved.
