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Autodesk Multimedia Forum · Hware/OpSys/video

Best COM Prog for CG?

9 messages in this thread

#107427From: Gayle G de N, SAVANTESJun 13, 1994 12:40 PM

Can anyone recommend a communications program that works reliably for sending large graphics files (more than 1.3 MB TGA compressed then zipped?). We are using an aged version of Flashlink, identical 9600 baud MNP modems on both ends, and we usually use the Ymodem or Ymodem-Batch-G protocol. We never have a problem with large text files, but do have difficulties with anything larger than a basic GIF file in the realm of graphics. Someone suggested Z-modem is a better protocol for graphics, but it's not an option with our old software. Any recommendations for new software? We would like something that has some kind of unattended batch capacity – so we could just start the process late at night, and it would automatically disconnect. Please don't suggest going via CIS! <BG> Our CIS bill last month was over $75 – not in the budget!!! 🙁 (Whatever WinCIM uses has worked fine on my end for downloading from this forum, but I haven't downloaded any single graphics file as big as we need to send). Thanks in advance for the help! Gayle G de N

#107456From: David RhotenJun 13, 1994 2:51 PM

What do you mean when you say that you have "difficulties"? If your software is set up to let the modems do the error-correction (which is a MUST for using Y-Modem-G) then is your problem lots of re-sends due to bad blocks (maybe to the point of aborted transfers), or are you saying that the file gets transfered but is bad? The use of Z-modem as a transfer protocol, regardless of the modem's ability to error-correct and compress is fairly standard, as even though Z-modem does it's own EC, it imposes minimal overhead, it's EC is 32-bit and very good and it has the ability to resume interrupted downloads. The answer's going to depend on what the actual problem is, but I'd be saving up for a couple of the new V.Fast modems (but I'd wait till the spec is formalized and the vendors get their products stable — I'm avoiding any of the "We promise it'll be upgradeable to the standard" hypes). The time you'll save with the huge throughput increase (with the parallel interface, it's what, like 318k?) ought to justify the cost if you transfer large files regularly. Dave

#107626From: Gayle G de N, SAVANTESJun 14, 1994 10:03 AM

Thanks for the response, Dave, I should have been more specific. The transfers are always aborted – just a matter of time – sometimes my partner receives "acsii garbage" on her screen, sometimes we get "bad block" messages, sometimes it seems to be clicking along, then pauses and aborts. Sometimes we've gotten about 80% through a large file, only to have it abort. We're not really interested in upgrading the modems – we don't have to do these transfers very often, also, people eager to be on the cutting edge, whether it's modems or P-90's, have really got to be into the thrill of working out bugs – which we definitely are not! Can you just recommend a simple COM program that uses Z-modem and will do batch stuff? Thanks in advance. Gayle G de N, SAVANTES

#107834From: David RhotenJun 15, 1994 9:48 AM

Well, I won't claim to be a comm wizard, and I know from experience that debugging problems in a comm link is a real pain (of course, we should all be thankful for comm errors, as that was what Mandelbrot was working on for IBM when he began to develop the idea of fractal dimensions). I'd check out Angelo's suggestion. Also, I've used PCPlus for years (they have both DOS and Windows versions, both of which are well liked, with support via CIS) and I've heard a good thing or two about QModem's new commercial version. By-the-by, Z-modem _is_ a batch protocol. Dave

#107909From: Gayle G de N, SAVANTESJun 15, 1994 3:47 PM

David – Thanks for your suggestions, and for clarifying ther nature of "Z-modem" … I'll check them out. Gayle G de N

#108158From: Randy JacksonJun 16, 1994 3:56 PM

We use PROCOM PLUS from Data Storm. Somewhere around $90.00 for the DOS version. Works fine through an icon in windows. Zmodem works great! Good luck.

#107630From: Angelo Guarino [DTI Inc]Jun 14, 1994 10:26 AM

Gayle, I downloaded a program called UNICOM from GO WINSHARE – Section #3 (Comm/Fax prgs). Really nice and the shareware version has Z-modem. A very high-end product with lots of options (I turned off most of the screen options .. except the modem lights). Its really nice and I've desceided to buy it. Ang

#107908From: Gayle G de N, SAVANTESJun 15, 1994 3:47 PM

Angelo – Thanks for the suggestion on UNICOM – you didn't mention if it was Windows or DOS (I'm getting resigned to using Windows on my "COM"-computer). -Gayle G de N

#108161From: Angelo Guarino [DTI Inc]Jun 16, 1994 4:31 PM

Gayle, >> you didn't mention if it was Windows or DOS<< Well .. I kind'a did in an off-hand way … "in the WINSHARE section" <g>. Its a windows prog. Ang