SuperCom ActiveX

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ActiveX API for
Windows 7, Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows ME/98/95

Serial Communication ActiveX Control

The SuperCom ActiveX (OLE/COM Control) for serial communications is a professional serial communication ActiveX that can be used to develop serial communication applications to control serial connections and attached serial devices (RS-232, RS-422, RS-485).

The SuperCom ActiveX for serial communications supports common Windows development environment (IDE, Compiler) and provides the programmer with properties, methods and the events in order to develop serial data communication applications.

The SuperCom ActiveX is also downwards compatible with the MSComm and compatible to PDQComm control and thus very easy to integrate into existing applications (see below how to replace MSComm, PDQComm or SaxComm with ease).

Using the SuperCom ActiveX for serial communications you easily write applications to control serial ports, Modem, Barcode Scanner, Scales, PLC, GPS receiver, POS, serial medical devices, serial printer etc. Develop file transfer and file server application.

Time is valuable. Developing communication software with the SuperCom serial communication ActiveX is extremely easy and starts by placing the ActiveX icon on a Windows Form.

The SuperCom ActiveX also provides intelligent functions that considerably speed-up the development process and produce fast, reliable solutions avoiding delaying or blocking of your application.

Communications Events

Applications using the SuperCom ActiveX can work event driven. The SuperCom ActiveX reports the events OnComm, OnDataPacket, OnConnect and OnFileInfo. The reported events enable the application to manage other tasks simultaneously while communications or file transfer last.

Enhanced Communications Events

The SuperCom Communications ActiveX reports more than 35 different communications events. The enhanced event reporting mechanism in SuperCom ActiveX enables you to receive events on any defined character (e.g. EOF(26), STX, ACK, NAK, etc).

Polling Mode

The SuperCom ActiveX also supports the polling mode of operation. This means to obtain with methods and properties the state of the status lines and to check the data flow for communication errors without the need to react on events.

No matter which mode of operation the application is using, SuperCom will always perform serial data communication on multiple ports or connections simultaneously and in background.

File Transfer

High speed file transfers tasks are very easy to accomplish. The following widely used standard protocols ZMODEM, YMODEM/BATCH, YMODEM, YMODEM-G, XMODEM-1K, XMODEM/CRC, XMODEM, KERMIT and ASCII are included. The SuperCom ZMODEM protocol includes important features like "crash recovery", 32bit CRC and "batch file transfer". In fact, these protocols are running very stable since 1991.

ActiveX Technology - ActiveX API

It's the same ActiveX control shipped with other SuperCom packages too, like SuperCom for TCP/IP, SuperCom for ISDN, SuperCom 3964 Engine, SuperCom Suite, etc. The runtime license, included with each packet, enables to control to perform serial port connections, TCP/IP, ISDN using one and the same component. One library, one API! Read More.

MSComm Compatible

The SuperCom for Serial Communication ActiveX is compatible with the MSComm control and thus it's very easy to update existing applications using it. Replacing MSComm with SuperCom ActiveX is a fast and smooth operation.

Summary

Using the SuperCom ActiveX up to 255 ports / connections can be opened simultaneously within the same application.

Start as many instances of your application - no limit set.

Lengthy functions like file transfer, connecting or observing the data stream for special data packets or strings are working in background while your application is performing other tasks. Your application does not "freeze" waiting on a lengthy function to complete.

Example 1
(The following briefly shows a simple example of the control operation using Visual Basic)

   Sub Form_Load()

         ' Select COM2
      SCom.CommPort = 2

         ' is it available ?
      If SCom.PortPresent(SCom.CommID) <> SCOM_PORT_AVAILABLE_READY Then
         Exit Sub   ' COM2 not available
      End If

        ' set comm params
      SCom.Settings = "115200,N,8,1"
        ' activate comm port
      SCom.PortOpen = True
        ' send data
      SCom.Output = "Hello World"
        ' receive data
      s = SCom.Input
          :
        ' close comm port
      SCom.PortOpen = False

   End Sub


   Private Sub SCom_OnComm()  'Event function
    Dim scEvent As Integer

        ' get the event code
      scEvent = SCom.CommEvent()

      If scEvent = SCOMM_EV_SEND Then ' or comEvSend
           ' all data sent, buffer is empty
      End If

      If scEvent = SCOMM_EV_RECEIVE Then ' or comEvReceive
            ' call SCom.Input to collect the received data,...
          Call ReadChars
      End If

      If scEvent = SCOMM_EV_CHAR Then
           ' User defined special char received e.g. EOF (26), NAK, STX
         Call HandleSpecialData
      End If

       :
       :
   End Sub

   Private Sub SCom_OnDataPacket(Action, Data)

      ' The parameter Action informs about the current status.
      ' The parameter Data delivers the captured data packet

      ' OK, data available
     If Action = SCOMM_DATAPACKET_OK Then sAction = "DATAPACKET OK"

      ' failed but some captured data may be available
     If Action = SCOMM_DATAPACKET_NOK Then sAction = "DATAPACKET NOK"

      ' error e.g. some property values provided was wrong
      ' check values of used "DP..." properties
     If Action = SCOMM_DATAPACKET_ERR Then sAction = "DATAPACKET ERR"

      :
      :
  End Sub

  Private Sub SCom_OnFileInfo(Action, Data)
   Select Case Action

     Case SCOM_RXING
        S1 = "RXING"

     Case SCOM_TXING
        S1 = "TXING"

     Case SCOM_RXFIN
        S1 = "RXFIN"

     Case SCOM_TXFIN
        S1 = "TXFIN"

     Case SCOM_QUEUEFIN
         :
         :
     End Select
  End Sub


  Private Sub SCom_OnConnect(Action, TimeLeft)
    If Action = SCOM_CONNECT_FAILED Then
      Debug.Print "CONNECT_FAILED"
    End If
               ' successfully
    If Action = SCOM_CONNECT_OK Then
      Debug.Print "CONNECTED ";
    End If
               ' progress...
    If Action = SCOM_CONNECT_INFO Then
      Debug.Print ".";
    End If
      :
      :
  End Sub

Example 2
(Setup connection)

  Private Sub SCom1_OnConnect(ByVal Action As Integer, ByVal TimeLeft As Long)

     If Action = SCOM_CONNECT_FAILED Then
       Form4.CTL_INFO.Text = "CONNECT FAILED"
     End If
               ' successfully
     If Action = SCOM_CONNECT_OK Then
       Form4.CTL_INFO.Text = "CONNECTED"
     End If
               ' progress...
     If Action = SCOM_CONNECT_INFO Then
       Form4.CTL_INFO.Text = "CONNECT INFO ..."
     End If

  End Sub

      :
      :

  SCom1.PortOpen=True ' setup a link

  SCom1.ConnectAddress="555-1234"

  SCom1.Connect=True ' now connect
      :

A short summary of the DLL API can be found here.

Some SuperCom ActiveX - Properties 

Content of "627, SuperCom Serial ActiveX"
  -  ActiveX control incl. runtime DLLs for serial communication (RS-232/422/485 and TAPI)
  -  Samples and Documentation

See also the the available product range for more available packages and details.

Compatibility

The SuperCom ActiveX can be used with any Windows 32 Bit ActiveX enabled development environment including C#, Visual C++, C++ Builder, Delphi incl. CodeGear, Embarcadero RAD Studio, FoxPro, LabVIEW, MS Office (Visual Basic for Applications, VBA, e.g. Excel, Access, Word), MS .NET, PowerBuilder, Visual Basic, Visual Basic .net etc.
Embed into HTML pages and use with Internet Explorer (event driven sample available).

For real Windows 64 Bit development a 64-Bit Version (x64) also offered.

Regular updates ensure compatibility with upcoming Windows versions.

Sample Applications

Complete sample applications written for C/C++, C#, C++ Builder, Delphi incl. CodeGear, Embarcadero RAD Studio, Internet Explorer, FoxPro, LabView, PowerBuilder, Visual C++, Visual Basic, VBA (e.g. Excel), Visual Basic .net, etc. are included in full source code.

License Information

Executables developed using the SuperCom ActiveX can be distributed royalty free.

System requirements

Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 95/98, Windows Me.

A proven alternative to MSComm, PDQComm, SaxComm and other

One question we often get: "Is it only Visual Basic 6 that can use the SuperCom ActiveX to replace MSComm?". And the answer is: "You can use the SuperCom ActiveX to replace the MSComm control under any compiler or development environment you are using it".

Steps to safely replace MSComm with SuperCom ActiveX

How to replace PDQComm and SaxComm control

Frequently Asked Questions about MSComm and related issues. More ...