PCECM 1.00 (For ProComm+ 2.xx for Windows ONLY) 7/18/94

Intro: 

        Some people including myself are having problems 
sending or receiving a fax from certain fax machines with 
ProComm+ 2.xx Windows. Most of the time the problem has to do 
with ECM. I had the exact same problem with WinFax Pro 4 so I 
knew what to look for. I checked with DataStorm and they said 
to add a line in pw2.ini to turn ECM off and it worked great, 
but that is very inconvenient because I only want it off to 
certain fax machines. So I wrote this program to make switching 
back and forth between using ECM and not using ECM easier. This 
is to add or remove a line (FECM= )in the pw2.ini to turn on or 
off ECM. 

Installation:


        The program only uses the one small exe file 
"PCECM.EXE". Copy it anywhere you like and add an icon (or 3) 
for it if you want. You can add a custom Icon on the Action Bar 
also, see note below. It does not need to be in your path but you 
may want it in the path so you can easily run it from a command 
line, run program, etc.. easily with the parameters. It doesn't 
alter any files except the one line in pw2.ini. To uninstall, 
run PCECM.exe and enable ECM so ProComm+ 2.xx is back the way it 
was and then delete the pcecm.exe file. 


Use:

NOTE: Before running this program, you should exit PC+ so your 
changes can take effect when PC+ loads. I tested it without 
unloading and reloading PC+ and it seemed to work OK, but for 
maximum crash protection I suggest exiting PC+ then running 
PCECM and reloading PC+.

You can run the program with or without parameters.:
1 Run The Program Normally "PCECM.exe" or "PCECM"
2 Run With an "on" or "off" parameter "PCECM.exe on" or "PCECM off" 
etc..

When you run normally:

It comes up with a small screen with 3 buttons:
Enable, Disable, and Cancel.

Enable will add the line FECM=11 to your pw2.ini re-enabling 
ECM use after you have previously disabled it. This is the 
normal default and should be the way you leave it except when 
having problems with certain fax machines.

Disable will add the line FECM=00 to your pw2.ini disabling 
ALL ECM usage for sending and receiving. (That will also 
disable BFT use because it needs ECM.) Normally you would set 
the program this way prior to sending or receiving from a 
machine that is giving you problems.

Cancel Will leave the setting the way you last set it at and 
offer to start PC+ for you.

If you run it with the on or off parameter:
        Use the command line "PCECM on" or "PCECM.exe on" to bypass the 
button screen and Enable ECM. (see above)
        Use the command line "PCECM off" or "PCECM.exe off" to bypass the 
button screen and Disable ECM.
   (You don't need to check the status first.; If you know you want it 
on or off then just run with the apropriate commands.) 

 IMPORTANT Notes:

        Normally, I suggest ProComm+ 2.xx should NOT be running 
when you run PCECM. (Normally a program reads the .ini file 
only when it loads.) However, I tested it by adding an icon on 
the action bar and running PCECM with PC+ loaded and it seemed 
to work.  It may or may not work right for you this way but you 
can try it.

        After running PCECM.exe, it will ask you if you want to 
Start PC+. Yes will start ProComm+ 2.xx and exit; No will just 
exit. (I am using a very simple method for launching ProComm+ 
2.xx. It should work but it depends on the way the path to 
ProComm+ 2.xx is in your pw2.ini. If it's not exactly the way 
it expects it, then ProComm+ 2.xx won't start from pcecm.exe 
and you'll have to start it the way you normally do. I look for 
a line in the pw2.ini under Paths called home=[path]; If it's 
there it should work.)

       With ECM OFF, you can NOT use some advanced features 
including sending files by BFT; Therefore, you should normally 
have ECM ON except for a trouble machine but then turn it on 
again when done if you want to use all the features. ProComm+ 
2.xx does have a setting for Enabling or Disabling ECM for 
sending or receiving ONLY. In the interest of keeping things 
simple I chose at least for now to either turn it completely 
off or on. (The 2 numbers I write to the pw2.ini such as 
FECM=00: the first number is for Send and the second number is 
for receive.) The intent of my program is that if you are 
having trouble with a specific fax machine, you turn off ECM, 
do your faxing, and turn it back on.


Future releases: 

        There is really nothing PLANNED at this time, I would 
anticipate Datastorm coming out with a proper fix for the 
problem instead of my work around which would render this 
program obsolete. 

        I hope you find this program as useful as I do. It is 
released as FreeWare. You can use it as long as you agree that 
I am not responsible for anything directly or indirectly 
related to using this program.            

        This program is FREE. (However I will accept donations 
toward my costs of producing this and other programs of up to 
the nominal fee of $2.50. It takes a lot of time to write these 
programs and do the research and it costs money to distribute 
them.) 

Send comments, donations, etc..to an address below.
                
                Michael Krane
                4 Azurean Ct.
                Mt. Sinai, NY 11766

        E-MAIL: Miklk       (on America On-line)(Preferrable)
                70242,2317  (on Compuserve)

The program has been fully tested but obviously not in every 
possible configuration, so PLEASE report any 
bugs or ideas to me at the above addresses.


          
        THIS PROGRAM IS DISTRIBUTED AS IS. THE AUTHOR (Michael Krane) MAKES NO
        WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
        TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
        WITH RESPECT TO THIS SOFTWARE AND DOCUMENTATION. IN NO EVENT SHALL
        THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOST
        SAVINGS, OR ANY OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING
        OUT OF THE USE OF OR THE INABILITY TO USE THIS PROGRAM.
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