dxmlw@dcatla.UUCP (Michael L. Weekley) (07/20/89)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. # # # -- Mike Weekley ...!gatech!dcatla!dxmlw Development, DCA/Crosstalk Communications, Inc.