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- Newsgroups: comp.dcom.fax,alt.fax
- Path: rde!uunet!gatech!asuvax!ncar!destroyer!cs.ubc.ca!merlin!reynard!pajari
- From: pajari@Faximum.COM (George Pajari)
- Subject: Fax (comp.dcom.faq) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Message-ID: <C64pJn.nn@Faximum.COM>
- Organization: Faximum Software, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
- Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 06:18:58 GMT
- Lines: 1598
-
- ~Newsgroups: comp.dcom.fax,alt.fax
- ~Subject: Fax (comp.dcom.fax) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Summary: Frequently asked questions about fax communications, protocols,
- standards, modems, products, and publications.
- ~Reply-To: faxfaq@faximum.com (FAQ Comments)
- Followup-To: comp.dcom.fax
- Distribution: world
- Organization: Faximum Software, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
- Keywords:
-
- comp.dcom.fax FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
- ----------------------------------------------
-
- 26 April 1994
-
- This article contains the answers to some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- often seen in the USENET newsgroup comp.dcom.fax relating to facsimile
- standards, software, and hardware. It will be posted approximately monthly.
-
- If you would like to make any submissions or corrections to the FAQ, please
- contact faxfaq@faximum.com. Your input is greatly appreciated. Suggested
- questions need not be accompanied by suggested answers. Areas that are in
- particular need of contributions are marked "<Need more information>".
- Flames and other comments (constructive or otherwise) are also welcomed.
-
- ****************************************************************************
- **
- ** HOT NEWS (26 April 1993)
- ** The Class 2 fax modem standard (EIA/TIA-592) has finally received all
- ** necessary board approvals and is expected to be available from Global
- ** Engineering Documents on May 3rd, 1993. (See below for information on
- ** Class 2, EIA/TIA-592, and the phone number for Global.)
- **
- ****************************************************************************
-
- regards
- g.
- pajari@Faximum.COM
- George Pajari / Faximum Software / Tel: +1 (604) 925-3600 / Fax: ... 926-8182
- 1497 Marine Drive, Suite 300 / West Vancouver, BC / Canada V7T 1B8
-
-
- Std. Disclaimers:
- ----------------
-
- The content of this article is the sole responsibility of the author(s) and
- contributors, and does not necessarily represent the opinions or policies
- of their employers or other companies mentioned.
-
- The information provided herein is believed to be correct but the author and
- contributors cannot accept any liability for errors and omissions. Readers
- are cautioned to verify any information before making decisions or taking
- action based upon this information.
-
- While every reasonable effort has been taken to maintain an objective and
- unbiased approach in the collection and presentation of this information,
- readers are advised that the author and possibly some of the contributors
- work for or have an interest in commercial organisations involved in the
- fax industry.
-
-
- =================
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
- =================
-
- G. Glossary
-
- Q. Frequently Asked Questions
- Q.1 Can I use my * data modem to send/receive faxes?
- Q.1A Can my fax modem transmit data?
- Q.2 How can I fax PostScript or PCL documents using computer-based fax?
- Q.3 How can I view incoming faxes on my computer?
- Q.4 How can I print incoming faxes on my computer?
- Q.5 Can fax modems also handle data or voice calls?
- Q.6 What resolution are fax images?
- Q.7 Can I take a fax file and edit it?
- Q.8 Is there a standard program interface (API) for fax communications?
-
- I. Sources of Information
- I.1 Standards Related to Facsimile Communication
- I.2 Where to Obtain Standards Documents and Related Information
- I.3 Magazine Reviews of UNIX Fax Software
- I.4 Magazine Reviews of DOS/Windows Fax Software
- I.5 Magazine Reviews of Mac Fax Software
- I.6 Publication Devoted to Fax
- I.7 Other Sources of Information on Fax
-
- P. Product Information
- P.1 List of UNIX Fax Software
- P.2 List of MS-DOS Fax Software
- P.3 List of MacIntosh Fax Software
- P.4 List of Windows Fax Software
- P.5 List of OS/2 Fax Software
- P.6 List of Fax Modem Vendors
-
-
- ===============================================================================
- ~Subject: G. GLOSSARY
- ===============================================================================
-
- ANSI/AIIM MS53-1993
- The American National Standard File Format for Storage and Exchange of
- Images - Bi-Level Image File Format: Part 1 (ANSI/AIIM MS53-1993) has
- recently been approved. The standard defines a format for a file containing
- one page with one image. Page sizes and image sizes can be specified.
- Both definite length and indefinite length are supported. Clipping of the
- image can be specified. Image coding may be according to CCITT Recs. T.4
- (one- and two-dimensional) and Rec. T.6. Bitmap may also be specified.
- Both facsimile style least significant bit and industry style most
- significant bit mapping are supported.
- (Definition courtesy of hrs1@cbnewsi.cb.att.com (herman.r.silbiger))
-
- BFT or
- Binary File Transfer
- A method of transferring files using fax modems (as an extension to the
- fax protocol). This standard, which will be approved shortly, will be
- referred to as T.434.
-
- CAS
- An API for fax devices invented by Intel and DCA and tied to the Intel
- and MS-DOS architectures. More detailed information is available from the
- Intel BBS listed below.
-
-
- CCITT
- Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique (a.k.a. The
- International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee) is a body of
- the I.T.U. (International Telecommunication Union) which is a body of the
- United Nations. The CCITT is responsible for setting the international
- standards for telecommunications equipment. Its members are the national
- authorities in each country responsible for regulating and providing
- telecommunication services. The standards are called Recommendations and
- the recommendations of relevance to the fax world are the T series which
- govern the fax protocols and the V series which govern modem operation.
- (See also ITU, T.*, and V.*, below.)
-
-
- CED or
- Called Station Identifier
- The distinctive tone generated by a Group III fax machine when it
- answers the phone (2100 Hz).
-
-
- Class 1
- The Class 1 fax modem standard describes an extension to the "Hayes Modem
- Command Set" to permit computers to send and receive faxes using fax modems.
- The Class 1 standard is a low-level specification in which most of the
- protocol work (i.e. T.30) as well as image generation (rasterising and T.4
- compression) must be done by the computer (in software) while the modem only
- handles the basic modulation as well as converting the asynchronous data
- from the computer into the synchronous packets used in fax communications.
-
- The primary advantage of Class 1 modems is that fax protocol is implemented
- in software which means that new extensions to the fax protocol standard
- (i.e. T.30) can be implemented without requiring a ROM change in the modem
- (or without waiting for the modem manufacturer to get around to supporting
- the new feature).
-
- The primary disadvantages are (a) the software vendor has to handle the
- complexity of the T.30 protocol and (b) Class 1 (almost by definition)
- is very sensitive to timing and multi-tasking operating systems (such as
- *IX) have great difficulty in reliably meeting the tight timing constraints
- and maintaining the fax connection. Lifting this timing limitation is the
- primary motivation behind the new proposed Class 4 standard.
-
- The official standard for Class 1 is EIA/TIA-578.
-
- Although the official standard is copyright EIA/TIA/ANSI, a draft version
- has been published electronically by Supra and is available from their
- BBS (see below for the number) and from Sam Leffler at SGI (retrieve his
- FlexFax package, described below).
-
-
- Class 2
- The Class 2 fax modem standard describes an extension to the "Hayes Modem
- Command Set" to permit computers to send and receive faxes using fax modems.
- The Class 2 standard is a higher-level specification in which most of the
- protocol work (i.e. T.30) is done by the modem while the computer is
- responsible for managing the session and providing the image data in the
- appropriate format (i.e. T.4).
-
- The primary advantage of Class 2 is that the low-level detail work is
- handled by the modem. Not only does this mean that software developers
- do not have to be burdened with having to support the T.30 protocol, it
- also relieves the host computer of all of the time-critical aspects of
- fax communications, making support of Class 2 modems under *IX systems
- possible.
-
- The biggest headache for software developers is that the Class 2 standard
- took a long time to be approved (more for political than technical reasons,
- IMHO) and many companies did not wait for the final version to be approved
- before shipping modems. As a result we have a situation (as of 93Q1) in
- which all shipping Class 2 modems adhere (more or less) to the first draft
- of the TR29.2 committee (document SP-2388) and not to the standard as it
- was approved. To compensate for this, the "new" Class 2 is referred to as
- Class 2.0 and the "old" as plain Class 2.
-
- (Warning - flame from a frustrated fax programmer on...)
- Even more disconcerting is the fact that most companies who have implemented
- (the old) Class 2 have done one or more things wrong (they must have been
- smoking *and* inhaling) so we have a further division of the standard into
- "true, old Class 2" (which includes the Everex 24/96D and MultiTech modems)
- and everything else (mostly based on the Rockwell chip which differs from
- SP-2388 in a number of ways, although some other chip makers, such as EXAR,
- have found even more ways than Rockwell to depart from SP-2388). It's so bad
- that most modem companies now implement the Rockwell version of Class 2 just
- because so many of the *%#& things have been shipped (i.e. Multitech has a
- special command which switches their modem from proper Class 2 operation to
- Rockwell-like operation just so they can interoperate with DOS software that
- expects Rockwell-like operation). And of course no one at Rockwell or EXAR
- or the other companies bothered to write down the difference between their
- version of Class 2 and the TR29.2 document. (Flame off.)
-
- The draft standard for the "old" Class 2 is SP-2388, Document
- TR-29/89-21R8, dated March 21, 1990. This is available by contacting the
- EIA/TIA directly. This is the standard implemented by all Class 2 modems
- currently on the market (true to the best of my (pajari) knowledge as of
- 26 Apr 93).
-
- The official standard for the "new" Class 2.0 (also referred to as
- Class 2.0) is EIA/TIA/ANSI-592. This document ought to be available from
- Global Engineering Documents (see below) by May 3rd, 1993. As far as I
- (pajari) am aware, there are no true Class 2.0 modems yet shipping (as of
- 26 Apr 1993).
-
- Note that although many modems that implement Class 2 also support Class 1,
- Class 1 is *not* a subset of Class 2. Also, there are some modems that only
- support Class 2 and many that only support Class 1.
-
- Although the official standard is copyright EIA/TIA/ANSI, a draft version
- has been published electronically by Supra and is available from their
- BBS (see below for the number) and from Sam Leffler at SGI (retrieve his
- FlexFax package, described below).
-
-
- Class 3
- A class number reserved for a project to define a standard for fax modems
- that would, in addition to handling the T.30 protocol (i.e. Class 2), also
- handle the conversion of ASCII data streams into images (i.e. T.4). Although
- there are a couple of fax modems that handle the ASCII to fax conversion,
- no draft document has been circulated and the future of this project is in
- doubt.
-
-
- Class 4
- Class 1 with intelligent buffering to reduce the need for the host
- computer to respond instantly to the fax modem. This standard is expected
- to go out to ballot in 93Q2.
-
-
- Class 8
- Not a fax standard at all but an extension to the Hayes command set to
- support voice.
-
-
- CNG or
- Calling Tone
- The distinctive tone that a fax machine ought to generate when placing
- a fax call (1100 Hz on for 1/2 second, off for 3 seconds).
-
-
- CSI or
- Called Subscriber Information
- The "name" of the answering fax machine. An optional frame of information
- sent to the calling fax machine during Phase B (see T.30 below). Although
- many fax machines permit ASCII information, the T.30 standard states that
- this is to contain the international phone number of the fax machine,
- including the plus symbol, the country code, the area code, and the
- subscriber number using only digits, the plus symbol, and a space.
- (i.e. the North American fax number (604) 926-8182 ought to be programmed
- into the fax machine as +1 604 926 8182).
-
-
- ECM or
- Error Correcting Mode
- An extension to T.30 to permit the receiving fax machine to request that
- portions of an image that were received with errors be retransmitted.
-
- Normally the T.4/T.30 protocol is error detecting but not error correcting.
- The receiving fax machine can usually tell when an error has impaired the
- image but cannot selectively request retransmission of the damaged portions
- of the image. The only options are to (a) ignore the errors (if few in
- number), (b) request that the page be resent (ignored by most fax machines),
- or (c) give up.
-
-
- EIA/TIA
- The Electronics Industry Association and the Telecommunications Industry
- Association. The U.S. bodies responsible for the development of standards
- related to telecommunications in general and for fax in particular.
-
-
- EIA/TIA-465
- The US version of T.4 (will probably be accepted as T.4 in the near
- future).
-
-
- EIA/TIA-466
- The US version of T.30 (will probably be accepted as T.4 in the near
- future).
-
-
- EIA/TIA-578
- See the definition of Class 1 (above).
-
-
- EIA/TIA-592
- See the definition of Class 2 (above).
-
-
- EIA/TIA-602
- The ANSI/EIA/TIA standard for the "Hayes Command Set" for modems.
-
-
- FaxBios
- An industry consortium (including companies such as HP, WordPerfect, etc.)
- that has published a specification for a FAX API. Versions for
- DOS and WINDOWS have been developed and discussions continue on adapting
- this API to other operating systems.
-
- FaxBios Association, 2625 Alcatraz Avenue, Suite 275, Berkeley, CA, 94705
- Fax: 510 540 5835. See also the Compuserve forum GO FAXBIOS.
-
-
- Group I Fax
- An old (now obsolete) standard for fax machines in which a page was
- transmitted in about six minutes at a resolution of 98 scan lines/inch.
- Group I devices frequently worked by attaching the page to be transmitted
- to a rotating drum (at 180 rpm) along which a photocell moves. Either
- amplitude modulation (the blacker the pixel the louder the tone) or
- frequency modulation (the blacker the pixel the higher the tone) can be used.
- The gory details may be found in CCITT Recommendation T.2.
-
-
- Group II Fax
- An old (now almost obsolete) standard for fax machines in which a page was
- transmitted in about three minutes at a resolution of 100 scan lines/inch.
- Group II uses vestigial sideband amplitude modulation with phase shifts.
- A white pixel is represented by a louder tone.
-
-
- Group III
- One of the current standards for fax machines in which a page is transmitted
- in about one minute. See the definition of T.30 (below) for more details.
-
-
- Group IV
- A standard for fax transmission using ISDN at 64kbps.
-
-
- ITU
- The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations
- specialized agency dealing with telecommunications.
-
- The purposes of the ITU as defined in the Convention are:
- - to maintain and extend international cooperation for the improvement
- and rational use of telecommunication of all kinds;
- - to promote the development of technical facilities and their most
- efficient operation with a view to improving the efficiency of
- telecommunication services, increasing their usefulness and making
- them, so far as possible, generally available to the public;
- - to harmonize the actions of nations in the attainment of those
- common ends.
-
- The ITU works to fulfil these basic purposes in three main ways:
- 1. international conferences and meetings;
- 2. technical cooperation;
- 3. publication of information, world exhibitions.
-
-
- The ITU is an organization, a union, of Member countries. At present there
- are 166 Members.
-
- The Union's headquarters are in Geneva, in the Place des Nations. In this
- building are to be found the five permanent organs:
-
- General Secretariat
- 1. Co-ordination and publication of telecommunication service data
- needed for operation of services.
- 2. External and legal representation of the Union.
- 3. Planning and management of technical cooperation and related
- development programmes for developing countries.
- 4. Provision of secretariat of conferences.
- 5. Administration, finance, computer, conference and public
- information services.
- 6. Membership protocol.
-
- International Frequency Registration Board (IFRB)
- The IFRB consists of five independent radio experts, all from different
- regions of the world, elected by Plenipotentiary Conferences and
- working full-time at the Union's headquarters in Geneva. They elect a
- Chairman and a Vice-Chairman for each year from among their own number.
-
- The Board's main task is to decide whether radio frequencies which
- countries assign to their radio stations (and which they have notified
- to the Board) are in accordance with the Convention and the Radio
- Regulations and will not cause harmful interference to other stations.
- If the Board's finding in a particular case is favourable, the
- frequency is recorded in the huge Master International Frequency
- Register kept by the IFRB and thus obtains formal international
- recognition and protection. An average of more than 1200 frequency
- assignment notices, covering new assignments or changes to existing
- assignments, arrives at the IFRB each week.
-
- International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) and
- International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT)
- The two CCIs are separate bodies dealing respectively with technical
- radio problems and technical telegraph and telephone problems. All
- Member countries of the Union can participate in their work, and also
- certain private companies operating telecommunication services.
-
- Each CCI holds a Plenary Assembly every few years. The Plenary Assembly
- draws up a list of technical telecommunication subjects or "Questions",
- the study of which would lead to improvements in international
- radiocommunication or international telegraphy and telephony. These
- Questions are then entrusted to a number of Study Groups, composed of
- experts from different countries. The Study Groups draw up
- Recommendations which are submitted to the next Plenary Assembly. If
- the Assembly adopts the Recommendations, they are published. CCIR and
- CCITT Recommendations have an important influence with
- telecommunication scientists and technicians, operating Administrations
- and companies, manufacturers and designers of equipment throughout the
- world.
-
-
- Telecommunications Development Bureau (BDT)
- The BDT was set up by the Nice Plenipotentiary Conference (1989) with
- the aim of strengthening technical assistance and cooperation
- activities with the developing countries. It is part of the federal
- structure of the Union and has the same status as the other organs
- which deal with regulations, standardization and coordination. The
- duties of the Bureau are in principe to fulfil, in the field of
- technical assistance to the developing countries. It is also
- responsible for making other funding arrangements so as to facilitate
- and enhance telecommunications development by offering, organizing and
- coordinating technical cooperation and assistance activities. Within
- the framework of these projects, hundreds of experts share both their
- skills and their long-standing experience with the local counterparts
- they are training.
-
-
- MH or Modified Huffman compression
- Also known as Group III one-dimensional compression. See T.4.
-
-
- MR or Modified READ compression
- Also known as Group III two-dimensional compression. See T.4.
-
-
- One-Dimensional Compression
- See T.4
-
-
- SP-2388
- The first draft standard for Class 2 that was implemented by many
- companies while waiting for the final standard to be approved
- (see also the definition for Class 2 above).
-
-
- T.1
- See Group I Fax.
-
-
- T.4
- One of the <CCITT> recommendations (i.e. standard) for Group III fax.
- In particular, this recommendation covers the page size, resolution,
- transmission time, and coding schemes supported for Group III fax.
- (See also the definition of T.30 below.)
-
- The basic coding scheme (called in the recommendation "One-dimensional coding
- scheme" but also known in the industry as MH or Modified Huffman) takes each
- scan line of pixels and compresses it by (a) converting the raster in a
- sequence of run lengths (the number of white pixels followed by the number
- of black pixels followed by the number of white pixels etc. and etc. until
- the entire raster has been converted into runlengths) and (b) encoding each
- run length into a unique variable-length bit string. The code words used
- for white and black runlengths are different and have been chosen in order
- to do a reasonable job of compressing a "typical" fax page.
-
- For example, in one dimensional encoding the following raster:
-
- OOOOOOOOOO****OOOOOO**OOOOOOO*OOOOOOOOO***...
- converted into run lengths:
- 10 4 6 2 7 1 9 3 ...
- encoded into MH bit strings:
- 00111 011 1110 11 1111 010 10100 10
- (spaces have been added for readability and are not part of the
- MH bit string)
-
-
- Since our example has unusually short white run-length it does
- not accurately illustrate the degree of compression which can
- be achieved. For example, a normal fine resolution fax image
- contains about 3,800,000 pixels (464K). Using one-dimensional
- encoding this can be reduced to between 20K - 50K.
-
- In two-dimensional encoding, the first line of a group of lines is compressed
- using one-dimensional coding (see above) and subsequent lines are compressed
- using an algorithm that describes line n in terms of line n-1. Since there
- is usually a high-degree of correlation between the pixels of adjacent scan
- lines, this usually results in significant compression.
-
- Since the basic fax protocol (T.30) is error detecting (but not error
- correcting), there is a limit on the number of two-dimensionally compressed
- scan lines that can follow a 1-D line. This is to limit the propagation
- of errors through an image. This limit is referred to as 'k' in the
- standard and is 2 for standard-resolution faxes and 4 for high-resolution
- faxes.
-
- Unfortunately, this method of compression is computationally intensive and
- most (inexpensive) fax machines do not support it.
-
-
- T.6
- The recommendation that covers the image compression algorithm used for
- Group IV fax machines.
-
- T.6 is essentially the two-dimensional compression algorithm from T.4 (see
- above) except that 'k' is infinite (i.e. all lines are two dimensionally
- compressed). This can be done because Group IV fax machines operate over
- an error-free communications channel.
-
-
- T.30
- One of the <CCITT> recommendations (i.e. standard) for Group III fax.
- In particular, this recommendation covers the protocol used to manage
- the session and negotiate the capabilities supported by each fax machine.
- The details of the image format are covered by the T.4 recommendation
- (see above).
-
- The protocol describes each fax call as proceeding through five phases:
-
- A: Call Set-Up
-
- This phase covers the placing of the call on the PSTN and the
- distinctive tones the calling and called stations are to emit.
-
-
- B: Pre-Message Procedure for Identifying and Selecting Facilities
-
- During this phase the two fax machines:
- - agree on whether to use tones or binary codes to exchange
- information on capabilities (most current fax machines use
- binary codes)
- - (optionally) the called machine sends a CSI frame identifying
- it to the calling machine.
- - the called machine sends a DIS frame telling the calling
- machine what capabilities it has (i.e. resolution, page
- size, receiving speed, etc.)
- - (optionally) the calling machine sends a TSI frame identifying
- it to the called machine.
- - the calling machine sends a DCS frame telling the called
- machine what capabilities are in effect for this document
- (based on the calling machine's capabilities and the information
- received in the DIS frame).
- - the two machines determine the maximum baud rate that the
- communications link will reliable sustain (training & phasing)
-
-
- C: Message Transmission
-
- The fax is sent. The end of the last scan line is marked by a
- RTC code (return to control).
-
-
- D: Post-Message Procedure including End-of-message, Confirmation,
- and Multi-Page Procedures
-
- - the calling machine indicates what it wants to do next
- (send another page, terminate the call, request operator
- intervention, etc.).
- - the called machine indicates its response to the page and command
- just received (o.k., o.k. but retrain, not o.k., give up, etc.)
-
- At this point the machines go to one of phase B, C, or E depending
- on the exchange of commands and responses during phase E.
-
-
- E: Call Release
-
- Hang up the phone.
-
- T.434
- The standard for Binary File Transfer Format (a method of encoding documents
- and sending them by fax without converting them to image format first.
-
- T.611
- A standard for high-level fax API.
- <More information needed>
-
-
- TSI or
- Transmitting Subscriber Information
- The "name" of the calling fax machine. An optional frame of information
- sent by the calling fax machine during Phase B (see T.30 above). See
- CSI (above) for details on the recommended format.
-
-
- Two-Dimensional Compression
- See T.4.
-
-
- V.17
- The CCITT recommendation for 14,400 bps *synchronous* half-duplex
- modems. Used during the image transmission phase of fax
- communications. Optional (most fax machines do not support V.17).
-
-
- V.22bis
- The CCITT recommendation for 2400 bps asynchronous full-duplex modems.
- (Not used in fax but frequently supported by modems that handle fax.)
-
-
- V.27ter
- The CCITT recommendation for 2400 and 4800 bps *synchronous*
- half-duplex modems. Used during the image transmission phase of fax
- communications.
-
-
- V.29
- The CCITT recommendation for 7200 and 9600 bps *synchronous*
- half-duplex modems. Used during the image transmission phase of fax
- communications.
-
-
- V.32
- The CCITT recommendation for 9600 bps asynchronous full-duplex modems.
- (Not used in fax but sometimes supported by modems that also handle fax.)
-
-
- V.32bis
- The CCITT recommendation for 14,400 bps asynchronous full-duplex
- modems. (Not used in fax but sometimes supported by modems that
- also handle fax.)
-
-
- V.42
- The CCITT recommendation for error-checking and correction.
- (Not used in fax but sometimes supported by modems that also handle fax.)
-
-
- V.42bis
- The CCITT recommendation for data compression.
- (Not used in fax but sometimes supported by modems that also handle fax.)
-
-
- ===============================================================================
- Q. Frequently Asked Questions
- ===============================================================================
-
- Q.1 Can I use my * data modem to send/receive faxes?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- In a word, no. Unless your data modem has specific additional support for fax,
- you cannot communicate with fax devices using a data (only) modem.
-
- Simply put, the problem is that the modulation methods (tones) used to
- communicate data are different from those used to communicate faxes.
-
- Typically the modulation schemes used for fax are synchronous half-duplex
- while those used for data (at least by most UNIX and PC people) are
- asynchronous and full-duplex.
-
- Also, data modems, once they have negotiated a modulation scheme, tend to
- continue with the same one through out the session. Fax modems switch
- before and after each page between a high-speed modulation scheme used
- to transmit the image data and a lower (300 or 2400 bps) scheme to exchange
- control information.
-
- The following table outlines this briefly (see also above for definitions
- of V.*).
-
- Data Rate Data Modulation Std. Fax Modulation Std.
- ========================+==========================+========================
- 9,600 bps | V.32 | V.29
- ------------------------+--------------------------+------------------------
- 14,400 bps | V.32bis | V.17
- ========================+==========================+========================
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.1A Can my fax modem transmit data?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- In a word, maybe. There is a standard proposed by the EIA/TIA/ANSI called
- Binary File Transfer (BFT) that extends the fax Group III modulation and
- protocols for bulk data transfer.
-
- The problem, of course, is that few fax modems or software package provide
- support for this mechanism.
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.2 How can I fax PostScript or PCL documents using computer-based fax?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- In addition to the basic software to drive your fax modem/board, you will need
- specific software that can convert PostScript or PCL files into a raster image
- format compatible with your fax software package.
-
- GhostScript, for example, is a publically available software package that
- can convert PostScript into raster image format (although there are varying
- opinions on the quality of the font support).
-
- In the commercial world, most of the vendors of fax software provide software
- that can handle PostScript and/or PCL.
-
- When purchasing such software (a) check how many different fonts are supported
- (it's a pain to be able to use, say, NewCentury on your laser printer only to
- find it is not included in your fax package), and (b) in the case of PCL, check
- which level of the language is supported (PCL-4 does not support scalable
- fonts, PCL-5 does).
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.3 How can I view incoming faxes on my computer?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- In the PD world, there are a number of image-viewing packages available for
- X (such as xv).
-
- In the commercial world, most fax vendors provide support for the commonly
- available devices (in the case of UNIX, X; in the case of PC-UNIX, VGA
- and HGA support. Some vendors support other graphics-capable terminals such as
- the Wyse WY-160.)
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.4 How can I print incoming faxes on my computer?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Most fax software packages include software to convert fax images into print
- data streams compatible with dot matrix, HP PCL, or PostScript printers.
-
- Also the publically available (where?) pbmplus filter kit will handle most
- image formats.
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.5 Can fax modems also handle data or voice calls?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Not all fax boards can handle data (some are fax only). Most (all?)
- external fax modems can handle data as well as fax.
-
- Some (but not all) fax modems and software can automatically distinguish
- between data and fax calls and answer them appropriately
-
- Some DOS/WINDOWS based products can automatically distinguish between voice and
- fax/data calls and operate as a digital answer machine as well as a fax machine.
-
- Also, several companies sell devices which can switch incoming calls between a
- fax machine, a telephone answering machine, and a modem.
-
- [Suggestions anyone?]
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.6 What resolution are fax images?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The standard resolution for faxes is 3.85 scan lines/mm (approx. 98 dpi
- vertically) with 1728 pixels across a standard scan line of 215 mm (approx.
- 204 dpi horizontally).
-
- The optional "fine" resolution is 7.7 scan lines/mm (approx. 196 dpi
- vertically) with the same horizontal resolution.
-
- Many Group III fax machines use non-standard frames to negotiate higher
- resolutions (typically 300x300 dpi and 400x400 dpi) with other fax machines
- by the same manufacturer.
-
- Two fax machines (or modems) must negotiate a common resolution, page width,
- and page length before sending each page. The standard requires that all
- Group III fax machines suppport at least standard resolution and A4 size
- so that common ground can always be found.
-
- Extensions to the Group III standard to support these higher resolutions
- in a standard way have been proposed. Their current status is not known
- <Need more information>.
-
- <Need more information on resolutions supported by Group IV>.
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.7 Can I take a fax file and edit it?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- When faxes exchange information, it is done in the form of compressed images
- (with the exception of BFT). If you wish to edit or otherwise manipulate a
- received fax file you have two options:
-
- 1 - edit the file using a "paint" program that will accept the fax file
- (unfortunately there is a wide range of file formats for image files
- and you may have to work to find a format that is common between your
- fax application and your paint program).
-
- 2 - pass the file through an OCR program that will attempt to convert the
- image into ASCII (or word processing file format). The problem here is
- that most OCR programs are tuned to work with 300x300dpi images and faxes
- are either 98x204 or 196x204.
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q.8 Is there a standard program interface (API) for fax communications?
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- There are many API's that are used for fax communications. Words marked by
- -word- are further explained in the glossary above.
-
- At the hardware level, the two standards that govern the exchange of commands
- between a host computer and a fax modem are EIA-578 (-Class 1-) and EIA-592
- (-Class 2-).
-
- At the software level there is one "official" standard and a number of
- "industry standards". The one "official" standard is CCITT T.611
- (<need more information on this standard>).
-
- The most widely known industry standards are -CAS- (Communicating Applications
- Standard (?)) invented by Intel and DCA and tied closely to the Intel
- architecture, and -FaxBios- (developed by an industry consortium) which is less
- machine-dependent (implementations for MS-DOS and WINDOWS have been published
- and sporadic work on UNIX and other bindings is underway).
-
-
- ===============================================================================
- ~Subject: I. Sources of Information
- ===============================================================================
-
-
- I.1 Standards Related to Facsimile Communication
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- CCITT
- The Blue Book, Volume VII - Fascicle VII.3 Recommendation T.0 - T.63
-
- EIA/TIA/ANSI
- EIA/TIA-602 Data Transmission Systems and Equipment-Serial Asynchronous
- Automatic Dialing and Control
- "This is the standard for the basic Hayes command set."
-
- TIA PN-2388 Asynchronous Facsimile DCE Control Standard (DRAFT), Service
- Class 2, (also known as Document TR-29/89-21R8, March 21, 1990)
- "The first draft of the Class 2 standard, voted down, but the basis for
- all current (93Q1) Class 2 modems."
-
- EIA/TIA-578 Asynchronous Facsimile DCE Control Standard, Service Class 1
-
- EIA/TIA-592 Asynchronous Facsimile DCE Control Standard, Service Class 2
- (Expected to be available from Global Engineering Documents by
- June 3rd, 1993).
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.2 Where to Obtain Standards Documents and Related Information
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Global Engineering Documents
- (800) 854-7179 fax: (202) 331-0960
- Distributor for published EIA/TIA standards, as well as CCITT and standards
- docs from 400 other organisations and institutions.
- EIA catalog of standard available at no charge
-
-
- EIA/TIA
- (202) 457-4942 (Yvette Bottoms)
- Source of draft EIA/TIA standards (final stds available from Global)
-
-
- UN Bookstore
- CCITT Publications
- +1 (212) 963-7680 or +1 (800) 553-3210
-
-
- Philips Business Information Inc. (has acquired assets of OMNICOM)
- (301) 424-3338 or 1 (800) 777-5006, FAX: (301) 309-3847
- Source of CCITT and ISO publications
-
-
- Action Consulting
- Source of draft communications standards
-
-
- Human Communications
- (203) 746-4367 FAX: (203) 746-4367
- Source of draft communications standards
-
- International Telecommunications Union electronic document distribution
- service (TELEDOC)
- For more information, send a message with the line HELP in the body to:
- itudoc@itu.arcom.ch
-
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.3 Magazine Reviews of UNIX Fax Software
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- UNIX WORLD, August 1991, pp. 52-60, "Four Fitting Fax Packages", Rick Farris
- Reviews DigiFax, Faximum, TruFax, and VSI-Fax
-
- UNIX REVIEW, V10n11, Nov 1992, pp. 63-76, "Just the Fax, Ma'am", Tim Parker
- Reviews ArnetFAX, DigiFax, Faximum, FaxLink, FaxTrax, VSI-Fax
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.4 Magazine Reviews of DOS/Windows Fax Software
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- PC Magazine, 8 Dec 1992, v11n21, p275-342, "The Fax Solution", by Joel Dreyfus
- Reviews BitFax, DosFax Pro, Eclipse FAX, FAXability Plus, Faxit for DOS
- Faxit for Windows, FaxMaster, Fax Talk Plus, The Fax Window,
- Mirror III Fax, MTEZ Standard with ExpressFax, PaperWorks, and SuperFax
- for Windows.
-
- BYTE, Jan 1993, v18n1, p62-64, "First Impressions", by David Andres
- Discusses Delrina's WinFax Pro 3.0
-
- BYTE, Jan 1993, v18n1, p68, "First Impressions", by Dick Pountain
- Discusses Trio's Datafax
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.5 Magazine Reviews of Mac Fax Software
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- <Need information>
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.6 Magazine Reviews of Fax Modems (see also O/S specific reviews)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- PC Magazine, 8 Dec 1992, v11n21, p343-361, "Negotiating the Fax Modem Jungle"
- by Rick Ayre
- Reviews Computer Peripherals, Hayes, Intel, Practical Modem, Supra,
- U.S. Robotics, and Zoom.
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.7 Publications Devoted to Fax and Telecommunications
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Communications Standards Review [10-12/year, $695/year in N.A.; partial or
- shorter subs avail., contact publisher]
- 757 Greer Road,
- Palo Alto,
- CA 94303-3024 USA
- Phone: +1-415-856-9018 Fax: +1-415-856-6591 e-mail: 72540.113@Compuserve.Com
- Communications Standards Review is a journal providing current technical
- information on work in progress on communications standards (including
- fax) in US and international standards forums.
-
-
- EMMS [Bi-weekly, $595 per year]
- published by Telecommunications Reports
- 1333 H Street, 11th Floor
- Washington DC 20005
- Phone: (202) 842-0520 Fax: (202) 842-3047
-
-
- Human Communications Digest, [Quarterly, $195 per year within US,
- contact publisher for outside US]
- published by Human Communications
- 12 Kevin Drive, Danbury CT, 06811-2901
- Phone: (203) 746-4367 FAX: (203) 746-4367
- A digest of recent developments with fax and related standards.
-
-
- NetFax News, published by Davidson Consulting [Monthly, $contact publisher]
- 530 N. Lamer Street, Burbank, CA, 91506
- Phone: (818) 842-5117 FAX: (818) 842-5488
- Also publishes Scouting Reports and Buyers' Guides
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- I.7 Other Sources of Information on Fax
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ZyXEL Modem FAQ Archived at: ftp.cs.psu.edu in /pub/fenner/ZyXEL
-
- ZyXEL BBS: (714) 693-0762
-
- Supra BBS: (503) 967-2444
-
- Intel BBS: (503) 645-6275
-
-
- ===============================================================================
- ~Subject: P. Product Information
- ===============================================================================
-
- P.1 List of UNIX Fax Software
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- COMMERCIAL
- ==========
-
- <company> <product>
- <voice #> <fax #> <e-mail>
- --------------------------------------------------
- - North America -
-
- Arnet ArnetFAX
- (615) 834-8000 clarence@arnet.com
-
- COS Inc. TruFax
- (609) 771-6705 (609) 530-0898 trufax@cosi.com
-
- DigiBoard DigiFAX
- (612) 943-9020 support@dbsales.digibd.com
-
- Faximum Software Faximum ELS, Faximum PLUS
- (604) 925-3600 (604) 926-8182 info@Faximum.com
-
- Intuitive Technology FaxLink
- (409) 762-8456
-
- UniSal System FaxTrax
- (201) 729-9221
-
- V Systems VSI-Fax
- (714) 545-6442 Brad@VSI.com
-
-
- - Europe -
-
- Signify Software Products i(F)x Faxsoftware for UNIX
- +31-(0)3480-30131 +31-(0)3480-30182 gerard@integrity.nl
-
- QUEST systems GmbH FaxX
- +49 231 914028-0 +49 231 914028-40 faxx@quest.sub.org
-
- netCS GmbH netFAX
- +49 30 787999-0
-
- smoFax SMO GmbH
- +49 721 551971
-
- comFax Com-M-Tex
- +49 89 546130-0
-
-
- PUBLICALLY AVAILABLE
- ====================
-
- FlexFAX
- =======
- FlexFAX Release Version 2.1.0 Available
- ---------------------------------------
-
- This note has the following sections:
-
- Overview
- Supported Systems
- About the Distribution
- Class 1 Modem Support
- Commonly Asked Questions
- How to Obtain the Distribution by FTP
- How to Obtain the Distribution by Mail
- How to Obtain the Distribution within Silicon Graphics
- What to do Once You've Retrieved Stuff (source distribution)
- What to do Once You've Retrieved Stuff (binary distribution)
- FlexFAX Mailing List
- Use and Copyright
-
-
- Overview
- --------
- FlexFAX is a facsimile system for UNIX systems. It supports:
-
- o sending facsimile
- o receiving facsimile
- o polled retrieval of facsimile
-
- Facsimile can be any size (e.g. A4, B4), either 98 or 196 lpi, and
- transmitted/received as either 1D-encoded or 2D-encoded facsimile data
- (2D-encoded data is frequently more compact and hence takes a shorter
- time to communicate).
-
- Outgoing documents can be any format; the sendfax program uses a
- rule-based definition file similar to the System V /etc/magic file
- to deduce document types and to decide how to convert each document
- to a form suitable for transmission (either PostScript or TIFF/F).
- Automatic cover page generation is supported and users can easily
- tailor cover pages to their environment. A simple text-based
- phonebook database is supported by sendfax. Information is also
- provided on how to trivially setup an email to fax gateway service.
-
- Incoming facsimile are stored in a receiving area as TIFF/F files and
- may be automatically delivered by mail and/or printed. A fax server
- status program, faxstat, can be used to monitor the send and receive
- queues, as well as the state of facsimile servers.
-
- Fax modems may be shared with outgoing data communication applications
- that honor the "uucp locking protocol". These applications typically
- include: cu, tip, kermit, uucp, slip, and ppp. The system can also be
- configured so that incoming data calls cause the system to invoke the
- standard system getty program.
-
- The software is structured around a client-server architecture. One
- facsimile server process exists for each fax modem on a network.
- Clients may send facsimile from any machine that can communicate with
- the machine(s) on which the server(s) reside. Client software is
- designed to be lightweight and easy to port; imaging can be offloaded
- to the server or done on the client. (Imaging is, however, typically
- done on the server because it simplifies administration.) Multiple
- modems may be located on a single machine. An access control mechanism
- is included to control which users on which machines may submit
- documents for transmission.
-
- The system supports a wide variety of fax modems. Any Class 1 or
- Class 2 modem should work with the system. The following modems have
- been used successfully with the software:
-
- Class 1 modems:
- Digicom Scout+ (firmware revision 2A19/2931 or newer)
- Nuvo Voyager 96424PFX (firmware revision AF-C2500-E0)
- SupraFAX v.32bis (firmware revision V1.200-H or newer)
-
- NOTE: SEE THE SECTION "Class 1 Modem Support" FOR IMPORTANT INFO ON THE
- CLASS 1 MODEM SUPPORT
-
- Class 2 modems:
- Boca M1440E (firmware revision V1.270 or newer)
- Dallas Fax <something> (no longer sold, not recommended)
- Everex 24/96D (no longer sold)
- Hayes Optima 24+Fax96 (firmware revision TR00-J260-001 XXX or newer)
- Multi-Tech 1432BAI (firmware revision 0307 I or newer)
- SupraFAX v.32bis (firmware revision V1.200-C or newer)
- Telebit WorldBlazer (firmware revision LA7.01)
- Twincom 144/DF (firmware revision V1.200 or newer)
- ZyXel U1496E (firmware revision 5.01 or newer)
-
- Other modems:
- Abaton InterFax 24/96 (no longer sold)
-
- Note however that some modems perform better than others. The file
- MODEMS included in the distribution provides information about each
- modem that has been tried.
-
-
- Supported Systems
- -----------------
- The software has been ported to the following systems:
-
- sgi Silicon Graphics 4D machines w/ AT&T C++ compiler or gcc 2.3.3
- sun Sun3/Sun4 w/ SunOS 4.1.X and GNU gcc 2.3.3
- bsdi BSD/386 1.0 w/ GNU gcc 2.3.3
- 386bsd 386bsd 0.1 on an Intel 486 w/ GNU gcc 2.3.3+patches
- svr4 System V Release 4 on an Intel x86 w/ GNU gcc 2.3.3 (incomplete)
- solaris2 Solaris 2.x on a Sun4 with GNU gcc 2.3.3 (incomplete)
- sco SCO ODT 2.0 (incomplete)
-
- Systems that are marked (incomplete) compile properly and can be used
- to send and receive facsimile, but may have known problems or may be
- lacking some utilities such as the faxaddmodem installation script.
-
- Porting the software is usually straightforward provided there is a
- working C++ compiler (e.g. gcc), PostScript imaging facility (e.g.
- ghostscript), and support for a limited subset of the POSIX system call
- interface. System requirements are described more fully in the source
- code distribution.
-
-
-
- About the Distribution
- ----------------------
- There are two distributions: a binary version that is directly
- installable on a Silicon Graphics IRIX 4.0.x system and a source
- distribution.
-
- The executables in the binary version of this distribution are only
- for Silicon Graphics 4D processor-based systems. The distribution
- is sure to work on any IRIX 4.0.x system, though it may also work
- on pre-4.0 os versions.
-
- The source distribution includes all the source code in the system
- except a small bit of code used to build a Display PostScript-based
- imager (this code is useless unless you have a developers agreement
- with Adobe for Display PostScript). The system is written almost
- entirely in C++. I use the AT&T 2.1 compiler, as supported by Silicon
- Graphics. GNU gcc 2.3.3 has been successfully used to build this
- software on all systems.
-
- A PostScript interpreter program is needed for imaging outgoing
- facsimile on the server machine. The binary distribution for Silicon
- Graphics machines includes an imaging program that requires the Display
- PostScript execution environment (dps_eoe) that is available with most
- versions of IRIX. The source distribution includes a device driver for
- use with Ghostscript version 2.5.2 or later.
-
-
-
- Class 1 Modem Support (Caveat Emptor)
- -------------------------------------
- Most contemporary fax modems provide one of two command interfaces for
- communication between the host and modem: Class 1 or Class 2.
- (Actually, many modems that provide a Class 2 interface also provide a
- Class 1 interface.) These interfaces are specified by the Electronic
- Industries Association/Telecommunications Industry Association
- (EIA/TIA). The Class 1 standard provides minimal hardware support for
- fax communication while Class 2 adds many commands and places more
- functionality in the modem.
-
- FlexFAX includes drivers for both Class 1 and Class 2 modems. Robust
- support for Class 1 modems places two requirements on the host system:
-
- o low latency for serial line input
- o near realtime response
-
- In a UNIX environment both these requirements can be problematic. In
- particular, many UNIX systems increase the latency for data received on
- a serial port in order to reduce system overhead. That is, input data
- are typically held in a low level device driver for some period of time
- before they are passed to the user so that bursts of input data can be
- delivered to the user together. This behaviour is known to occur under
- the Silicon Graphics IRIX and SunOS 4.1.x operating systems; it may
- also occur under other systems. It is important for the proper
- operation of the Class 1 driver that input data be delivered to the
- facsimile server as quickly as possible. This may require making a
- non-standard call of some sort to the operating system. For SGI
- systems this call is automatically done. For SunOS systems it appears
- that the only way to minimize the input latency is to create a stream
- i/o module that accesses an internal interface (see the comments in the
- routine setInputBuffering in faxd/FaxServer.c++).
-
- The response time requirements are important for insuring that T.30
- protocol messages are received in a timely fashion. On a loaded
- system the protocol process may be preempted by other activities and
- not be run fast enough to satisfy the protocol timing requirements.
- This can usually be guarded against by assigning the facsimile process
- a high scheduling priority. Unfortunately most UNIX systems do not
- provide support for such facilities and so even if it is possible to
- receive serial line input with the minimum of delay, protocol timing
- requirements may not be met because of delays in scheduling the
- execution of the fax server process. For this reason the facsimile
- server process attempts to raise its scheduling priority while it is
- actively sending or receiving facsimile. At other times, such as when
- it is doing queue management operations, it runs at a normal priority.
- On Silicon Graphics systems the ``high priority'' is a nondegrading
- scheduling priority that is above the priorities of the normal system
- processes. On other systems the server currently always runs at the
- same (normal) scheduling priority. For more details consult the
- setProcessPriority routine in faxd/FaxServer.c++.
-
- In summary, if you want to use a Class 1 modem with this software and
- your system does not provide support for low latency serial line input
- you are likely to have troubles. If your system does not provide a
- mechanism for raising process scheduling priority (note that this is
- not the same as the UNIX ``nice'' parameter), then you may see problems
- when the server is under load. Exactly how much load will cause trouble
- is dependent on the system configuration and processing power.
-
-
-
- Commonly Asked Questions
- ------------------------
- Q: How is FlexFAX related to netfax (aka GNU fax)?
- A: Netfax is a simple fax package developed by folks at MIT and freely
- available under the terms of the GNU software agreement. FlexFAX is
- a totally independent project that was intended to provide a robust
- facsimile service that supports a wide variety of modems and systems.
- FlexFAX is also publicly available, but with a different copyright
- agreement (see the copyright at the bottom of this note).
-
- Q: My modem is not listed as supported, will it work?
- A: If the modem conforms to the draft Class 2 standard that most vendors
- used to implement their ``Ersatz Class 2'' modems, then it should work
- with the software; probably with some minor modifications to one of the
- modem configuration files distributed with the system.
-
- If the modem conforms to the EIA-578 "Class 1" programming interface,
- then it will only work if the intended host provides certain system
- facilities. At present the only machine that is *known* to provide
- the necessary facilities is the Silicon Graphics Indigo.
-
- Otherwise it is possible to support a modem by writing a new ``modem
- driver'' that is compiled into the facsimile server.
-
- Q: What's the best modem to buy/use with this software?
- A: First, if your system is incapable of supporting a Class 1 modem, then
- you need to use a Class 2 modem. The best Class 2 modem that I have
- had experience with is the Everex 24/96D, but it is no longer sold and
- it does not support the v.17 standard for transmitting and receiving
- at 14.4KB. I have had good success with all the Class 1 modems listed
- above; though the Supra modem exhibits the usual problems known to exist
- with modems built around the Rockwell RC144DP (data pump).
-
-
-
- How to Obtain the Distribution by FTP
- -------------------------------------
- The source code is available for public ftp on
- sgi.com sgi/fax/v2.1.src.tar.Z
- (192.48.153.1)
-
- You can also obtain inst'able images for Silicon Graphics machines from
- sgi.com sgi/fax/v2.1.inst.tar
- (192.48.153.1)
-
- For example,
- % ftp -n sgi.com
- ....
- ftp> user anonymous
- Password: <use mail address as password>
- ftp> cd sgi/fax
- ftp> binary
- ftp> get v2.1.src.tar.Z
- ....
- ftp> quit
-
- In general, the latest version of the 2.1 release of the software is
- always available as "v2.1.src.tar.Z" or "v2.1.inst.tar" in the ftp
- directory. This file is a link to the appropriate released version (so
- don't waste your time retrieving the linked file as well!) Any files of
- the form v2.1.*.patch are shell scripts that can be used to patch older
- versions of the source code. For example, the file v2.1.0.patch would
- contain patches to update v2.1.0.tar.Z. Patch files only work to go
- between consecutive versions, so if you are multiple versions behind
- the latest release, you will need to apply each patch file between your
- current version and the latest.
-
-
- How to Obtain the Distribution by Mail
- --------------------------------------
- Do not send me requests for the software; they will be ignored (without
- response). If you cannot use FTP at all, there is a service called
- "ftpmail" available from gatekeeper.dec.com: you can send e-mail to
- this machine and it will use FTP to retrieve files for you and send you
- the files back again via e-mail. To find out more about the ftpmail
- service, send a message to "ftpmail@gatekeeper.dec.com" whose body
- consists of the single line "help".
-
-
- How to Obtain the Distribution within Silicon Graphics
- ------------------------------------------------------
- Internal to Silicon Graphics there are inst'able images on the host
- flake.asd in the directory /usr/dist. Thus you can do something like:
-
- % inst -f flake.asd.sgi.com:/usr/dist/flexfax
-
- to install the latest version of the software on your machine.
-
-
- What to do Once You've Retrieved Stuff (source distribution)
- ------------------------------------------------------------
- The source distributions come in a compressed tar file. To extract the
- software do something like:
-
- % mkdir fax; cd fax
- % zcat <somewhere>/v2.1.src.tar.Z | tar xf -
-
- (uncompress and extract individual files in current directory). Then
- follow the instructions in the file README in the top of the source tree.
-
- What to do Once You've Retrieved Stuff (binary distribution)
- ------------------------------------------------------------
- The binary distribution comes as a tar file that contains images for
- use with the standard Silicon Graphics installation program inst(1).
- To unpack the inst images do something like:
-
- % mkdir dist; cd dist
- % tar xf <somewhere>/v2.1.inst.tar
-
- Next, run inst to install the appropriate pieces that you want. The
- key documentation from the source distribution is included in the
- subsystem flexfax.man.readme. When this subsystem is installed the
- README file and other useful pieces of information are placed in the
- directory /usr/local/doc/flexfax. Otherwise the software is broken
- into two areas: flexfax.client.* for software needed on client machines,
- and flexfax.server.* for software needed on a machine where a fax
- modem is located. To unpack and install the client portion:
-
- % mkdir dist; cd dist
- % tar xf ../v2.1.inst.tar
- % cd ..; inst -f dist/flexfax
- ...
- inst> go
-
- (Note, the dist subdirectory is because some versions of inst fail if
- the files are in the current directory.) Note that server binaries are
- not installed by default, so to get them also you need to do:
-
- % inst -f flexfax
- ...
- inst> install flexfax.server.*
- inst> go
-
- Remember that to install a server on a Silicon Graphics machine, you
- need to have already installed the Display PostScript execution
- environment product (dps_eoe). Otherwise, the fax server will not be
- able to convert PostScript to facsimile for transmission.
-
-
- FlexFAX Mailing List
- --------------------
- A mailing list for users of this software is located on sgi.com.
- If you want to join this mailing list or have a list-related request
- such as getting your name removed from it, send a request to
-
- flexfax-request@sgi.com
-
- Submissions (including bug reports) should be directed to:
-
- flexfax@sgi.com
-
- When corresponding about this software please always specify what
- version you have, what system you're running on, and, if the problem is
- specific to your modem, identify the modem and firmware revision.
-
-
-
- Use and Copyright
- -----------------
- Silicon Graphics has seen fit to allow me to give this work away. It
- is free. There is no support or guarantee of any sort as to its
- operations, correctness, or whatever. If you do anything useful with
- all or parts of it you need to honor the copyright notices. I would
- also be interested in knowing about it and, hopefully, be acknowledged.
-
- Sam Leffler (sam@sgi.com)
-
-
- Copyright (c) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 Sam Leffler
- Copyright (c) 1991, 1992, 1993 Silicon Graphics, Inc.
-
- Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, and sell this software and
- its documentation for any purpose is hereby granted without fee, provided
- that (i) the above copyright notices and this permission notice appear in
- all copies of the software and related documentation, and (ii) the names of
- Sam Leffler and Silicon Graphics may not be used in any advertising or
- publicity relating to the software without the specific, prior written
- permission of Sam Leffler and Silicon Graphics.
-
- THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS-IS" AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
- EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY
- WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
-
- IN NO EVENT SHALL SAM LEFFLER OR SILICON GRAPHICS BE LIABLE FOR
- ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND,
- OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS,
- WHETHER OR NOT ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE, AND ON ANY THEORY OF
- LIABILITY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE
- OF THIS SOFTWARE.
-
-
- GNU NetFax
- ==========
- on uunet.uu.net as systems/gnu/fax-3.2.1.tar.z (gzip format)
- To answer all the queries on NetFax:
-
- - I have taken over maintenance of NetFax.
- - I am currently integrating numerous fixes provided by various
- people which include:
- - support for Zykel Modems
- - Use more standard Class 2 commands
- - Setup configuration files for modems
- - support for Xenix
- (This isn't a priority, except that I'm already doing it
- for a client)
- - Better compilation and installation
- - There are a lot of problems with the current release, I don't
- expect that it will work on the majority of modem/system combinations
- without work.
- - If you have any fixes, or improvements please send them to
- me mintha@geog.ubc.ca or bug-fax@ai.mit.edu
- - I hope to have a new release out in a few weeks.
-
- Following are some hints on getting the current version of
- NetFax working (for the impatient :) I haven't tried all of these
- but they may help.
-
- - Use GNU make
- - It won't work on Xenix
- - If when you send a fax, it gets received twice as long as it
- should (22 inches instead of 11) try:
- - Use dfaxlow driver with Ghostscript (easiest) or
- - Change the source to use the +FDCC=xxxx/+FDCS=xxxx instead of
- +FDT=xxx
-
- The following modems are reported to work with NetFax 3.2.1
-
- Supra FaxModem 14.4 (v. 1.20C or later)
- Vivi 2496ef FaxModem (Has the resolution problem described above)
- Everex 24/96 D
-
- If you'd like to help me testing the new version, especially if you
- have something other than Supra Faxmodems, drop me a line.
-
- Jim
- --
- Jim Mintha Home: (604) 731-7240 or 737-6094
- mintha@geog.ubc.ca Work: (604) 822-2269 or 465-5074
-
-
-
- fax.3.2.1
- =========
- prep.ai.mit.edu has fax-3.2.1.tar.z
- <Need more information>
-
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- P.2 List of MS-DOS Fax Software
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- <Need more information>
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- P.3 List of MacIntosh Fax Software
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- <Need more information>
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- P.4 List of Windows Fax Software
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- <Need more information>
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- P.5 List of OS/2 Fax Software
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- <Need more information>
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- P.6 List of Fax Modem Vendors
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Company Classes Phone Fax
- ===================== ======= ============== ==============
-
- -- North America --
-
- AT&T Paradyne 1 (813) 530-2090 (813) 530-2103
- Computer Peripherals 2 (805) 499-5751 (805) 498-8306
- Hayes 1 (404) 441-1617 (404) 441-1213
- Intel 1 (503) 629-7354 (503) 629-7580
- MICC 2 (408) 980-9565 (408) 980-9568
- Macronix 2 (408) 453-8088
- MultiTech Systems 2 (612) 785-3500 (612) 785-9874
- Practical Peripherals 1,2
- Supra Corporation 1,2 (503) 967-2400 (503) 967-2401
- Telebit 2 (408) 734-4333 (408) 734-3333
- The Complete PC 1,2 (408) 434-0145 (408) 434-1048
- U.S. Robotics 1 (800) DIAL-USR (708) 982-5253
- Zoom 2 (617) 423-1072 (617) 423-9231
- ZyXEL USA 2 (714) 693-0808 (714) 693-8811
-
- -- Australia (courtesy of adam@saki.com.au )--
-
- Supplier Model Class Phone/Fax
- ================== ============= ======== ==================
-
- NetComm M4F, M7F 2,2.0 +61 2 888 5533
- Dataplex DPX-223 2 +61 3 210 3333
- DPX-225 2
- Interlink Fax Modem 3 2 +61 3 525 3388
- Maestro 9600XR 2 +61 6 239 2369
- Banksia BitBlitzer 2 +61 2 418 6033
-
- -- Europe --
-
- Dr. Neuhaus ? ? +49 40 55304290/+49 40 55304180
-
-
-
- <Need more information>
-
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------
- Contributors to and/or Sources of Information Used in this FAQ
- --------------------------------------------------------------
- adam@shinto.saki.com.au (Adam Donnison)
- dir@teal.csn.org (Daniel I. Rosenblatt)
- gerard@integrity.nl (Gerard Huysmans)
- hrs1@cbnewsi.cb.att.com (herman.r.silbiger)
- johnh@cs.arizona.edu (John M Hughes)
- mckeeveb@monashee.sfu.ca (Rob McKeever)
- mintha@geog.ubc.ca (Jim Mintha)
- naddy@mips.ruessel.sub.org (Christian Weisgerber)
- regebro@stacken.kth.se (Lennart Regebro)
- root@gandalf.greenie.gold.sub.org (KlausRosenauer)
- sam@sgi.com (Sam Leffler)
- udo@sensai.quest.sub.org (Udo Klimaschewski)
- uli@sensai.quest.sub.org (Uli Zug)
- wes@kofax.com (Wes Chalfant)
-
- and of course, the author/editor of this FAQ:
- pajari@Faximum.com (George Pajari)
-
- -------------------------------------
- Posters of Questions Used in This FAQ
- -------------------------------------
- fung@ee.rochester.edu (Hei Tao Fung)
- idhs500@indyvax.iupui.edu (Scott Le Fevre)
- kuo@teal.csn.org (David R. Love)
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- This material is not copyright. Permission to copy freely granted.
- Acknowledgement citing George Pajari, Faximum Software appreciated.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-