dxmlw@dcatla.UUCP (Michael L. Weekley) (07/20/89)
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I am posting this here because I *think* it will be of interest to many
of you. However, if I am breaching some form of net.ettiquette, please
do not flame me too harshly.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Stan Hayes, 404/325-0722
MCI MAIL: SHAYES 263-5738
COMPUSERVE: 76576,1524
UUCP: ...!gatech!dcatla!dxmlw
CROSSTALK FOR WINDOWS SETS NEW STANDARDS FOR WINDOWS COMMUNICATIONS
New York, NY, July 18, 1989... Crosstalk Communications
announced today that it is shipping Crosstalk for Windows, its new
communications software product designed specifically for the
Microsoft Windows operating environment. The new program supports
popular terminal emulations, file transfer protocols, Microsoft's
Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) protocol, and incorporates a
programming language for automating communication sessions.
"We undertook an ambitious design objective for Crosstalk for
Windows," said Chuck Rudolph, Crosstalk Communications' Vice
President- Marketing. "Providing the ease of use of the Windows
interface and the communications power that users have come to
expect from Crosstalk products is no small task. We're very pleased
to bring Crosstalk for Windows to market at a time when users of
IBM PCs and compatibles are turning to the multitasking Windows
environment in increasing numbers."
"DDE support," Rudolph said, "was an essential element in the
new program's design. DDE is the standardized method for passing
data "on the fly" between concurrently executing programs. Many
major Windows and upcoming OS/2 Presentation Manager programs
support DDE, helping users develop sophisticated integrated
aplications using software from different vendors. DDE will allow,
for example, a user to have an Excel spreadsheet initiate a
Crosstalk session to a dial-up database and retrieve stock quotes,
then automatically include these quotes in the spreadsheet, or an
associated graph."
The programming language built into Crosstalk for Windows,
like that of Crosstalk Mk.4, permits users to write "scripts" that
automate many of the program's functions. Besides creating Windows
dialogs and executing DDE commands, the language supports
conditional branching, string manipulation, and integer math. A
script might, for example, log on to a public database service,
enter a data request, capture the information to a disk file and
log off the service, all without operator intervention. "People
have written everything from highly complex commercial applications
to games in CASL," Rudolph said, "and I expect that we'll soon be
seeing similar Crosstalk for Windows scripts showing up on
CompuServe's Crosstalk Forum."
Crosstalk for Windows specifications include:
* Full Microsoft Windows application features (pull-down
menus, mouse operation, dialog boxes, on-line indexed
help, background operation and Dynamic Data Exchange)
* Communication speeds from 110 to 19,200 bps
* DEC VT52, VT102 (including "double size" characters), IBM
3101, IBM PC ANSI and CompuServe VIDTEX graphics (medium
and high resolution) terminal emulations
* XMODEM, YMODEM, ZMODEM, Kermit, CROSSTALK, DART
(proprietary) and CompuServe B file transfer protocols;
ASCII upload and capture
* A "learn" mode which generates scripts to automate host
sessions by capturing host prompts and operator replies
* On-line data capture to disk file and/or printer
* Reviewable scroll buffer; size up to 64K, user-
selectable. Buffer text may be transmitted, copied to the
clipboard, capture file, or printer
* 48 user-definable function keys - both host response and
scripts can be assigned to function keys and executed
with a single keystroke, pull-down menu selection, or by
clicking an on-screen icon with the mouse
* Scripts for dialup and logon to popular information
services
* Direct "hard-wired" host connections and support for
popular asynchronous auto-dial modems, including high-
speed modems
Crosstalk for Windows operates in environments supported by
Microsoft Windows/286 and Windows/386, Version 2.1 or later. In
addition to the requirements of the Microsoft Windows operating
environment, Crosstalk for Windows requires approximately 500K of
disk space, 150K of RAM, and appropriate serial ports and modems.
Crosstalk for Windows' list price is $195.00. Current users
of Crosstalk XVI and Crosstalk Mk.4 can convert to Crosstalk for
Windows for a nominal charge. Information on updating can be
obtained from Crosstalk Communications' Update Department at (404)
998-3998, from Crosstalk's Bulletin Board Systems or the CROSSTALK
Forum on CompuServe (GO XTALK).
Crosstalk for Windows joins Crosstalk Communications' highly
regarded line of communications software for personal computers,
including Crosstalk XVI, Crosstalk Mk.4, Remote2 and R2LAN.
Crosstalk Communications is a division of Digital
Communications Associates, Inc. (DCA).
Crosstalk and DCA are registered trademarks of Digital
Communications Associates, Inc. Remote2 and R2LAN are trademarks
of Digital Communications Associates, Inc.
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Mike Weekley ...!gatech!dcatla!dxmlw
Development, DCA/Crosstalk Communications, Inc.