Copyright: Copyright (c) 1996 Woodruff Software Systems


Overview

WinFossil v1.07 - Release Date 1/26/96

WinFossil™ is a 32-bit FOSSIL (Fido-Opus-SeaDog Serial Interface Layer) driver for Windows 95.  It enhances the performance of existing MS-DOS communication applications such as many bulletin board programs and terminal emulation packages.  WinFossil provides a fast path from the applications interface to the 32-bit communications drivers of Windows 95.

WinFossil is produced by Woodruff Software Systems (FidoNet: 1:343/294).  See the technical support section for further contact information.

Who should use WinFossil:

If you use MS-DOS communications software under Windows and have it configured to use a FOSSIL driver such as X00, BNU or many of the other FOSSIL drivers available for MS-DOS.

Who should not use WinFossil:

If you have not heard of the term FOSSIL and do not run MS-DOS-based communication applications under Windows 95 then WinFossil probably is not for you.


Technical Support

Technical support is available through the following methods:

US Mail:

Woodruff Software Systems

1020 SW 10th St.

North Bend, WA 98045

E-Mail:

woodruff@halcyon.com

FidoNet/BBS:

Bryan Woodruff at 1:343/294 (+1 206 888 2407)

WWW:

http://www.halcyon.com/woodruff/www

The latest information is always posted on the WWW site.  The latest version of WinFossil can be obtained from the following locations:

FTP:

ftp.halcyon.com/local/woodruff/WinFossil/wnfossil.zip

CompuServe:

WINUTIL forum, Windows 95 section

FidoNet F/REQ:

WNFOSSIL.ZIP at 1:343/9 (Ballderdash!)

WNFOSSIL.ZIP at 1:343/294 (Woodruff Software Systems)


Application Compatibility

WinFossil has been tested with the following software packages:

•	BinkleyTerm 2.59

•	Blue Wave 3.11 (Max)

•	CE XYZ 1.0

•	D’Bridge 1.58

•	Doorway 2.30

•	Front Door 2.02

•	Front Door 2.12

•	InterMail 2.29

•	Maximus 2.xx

•	Maximus 3.0

•	McMail

•	PC Board 15.22

•	ProBoard

•	Remote Access 2.02

•	SBBS

•	Wildcat! 4.12

Compatibility notes:

Non-FOSSIL applications:

Starting with WinFossil v1.05, we disable COM port auto assignment by adding the directive: COMXAutoAssign=0 where X is the COM port in the [386Enh] section of the SYSTEM.INI.  This will allow all applications to access the COM port directly and avoids contention management issues.

FrontDoor:

Please note that the FDFIXW4W utility is NOT needed when using WinFossil.  WinFossil v1.06 will automatically wake up the MS-DOS session when it finds activity on the serial device.

GSZ/DSZ:

These external protocols do not support FOSSIL communications and try using the COM hardware directly.  In a virtual machine environment (such as Windows 95), the performance hit for such behavior is quite severe and is the same reason that WinFossil is a virtual device driver rather (VxD) and out performs MS-DOS based FOSSIL drivers.

We recommend switching to an external protocol which supports the FOSSIL specification.  CE-XYZ from Cutting Edge Computing (1:2240/176) is a very good package and operates well with WinFossil.

CFOS:

WinFossil v1.07 properly hands off FOSSIL functions to handlers for non-enabled ports.  This allows other FOSSIL drivers (for example, CFOS) to operate cooperatively in the same system.


Revision History

Revision History:

v1.07

•	Made various performance enhancements related to improving throughput, reducing time-outs and CRC errors.

•	Buffers limits automatically set to enable send XOFF request (or drop RTS) at 7/8 receive full and send XON request (or raise RTS) when it empties to 1/8 full.

•	Hardware handshaking is now enabled by default for locked baud rates.

•	Fixed more sleepy applications.  We have decided that Windows can handle time-slicing better than an application that is requesting to release it’s time-slice while in the middle of a file transfer.  WinFossil filters the “release time-slice” requests and only allow these requests when there is no activity on the COM port.  This prevents the MS-DOS session from sitting idle when there is really activity on the port.  This was not a problem for MS-DOS based FOSSIL drivers because interrupts from the hardware device always kept the MS-DOS session busy while servicing the interrupt.

•	WinFossil now supports up to 16 ports.

v1.06a

•	Corrected installation to modify \WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI not \WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SYSTEM.INI.

v1.06

•	Fixed incompatibility with Blue Wave 3.11 (Max) mail reader door program.

•	Fixed a another timing issue with the transmitter flush.

•	Verified compatibility with Doorway 2.30.

•	Worked around a problem in the Windows 95 COMM driver which was the source of another stuck transmitter problem frequently reproduced with Remote Access..

v1.05a

•	Fixed another blocking situation with idle timeouts.  This one seems to be the source of CRC errors with my system while running BinkleyTerm and/or Maximus.  If these applications are configured to use multitasking features, the MS-DOS session running the BBS software was likely to sleep after it filled the transmit buffer.  The receiving system would timeout waiting for the completion of the actual data block and throughput was hindered considerably.

v1.05

•	Fixed more FrontDoor and RemoteAccess problems.  Performance was hindered by the constant "release time slice" signaling by these  applications. The MS-DOS session will now be awakened whenever there is an event pending on the serial device.

•	Fixed peek character routine -- was returning a false status in some cases.

•	Added VFOSSIL support.

•	Fixed Ctrl-C/Ctrl-K handler.

•	Enhanced the help file.

•	Adjusted XON/XOFF limits to allow WinFossil to leave control lines enabled with a higher buffer fill percentage.

V1.04

•	Fixed deadlocks with FrontDoor and InterMail.

•	Added support for enabling FOSSIL control on a port by port basis.

V1.03

•	Return proper codes on port reactivation, enhanced timeout handling for receive character routine.

•	Investigated reported issues regarding FrontDoor.

V1.02

•	Fixed performance and timeouts with Function AH=01h, WriteCharWait().


How to enable WinFossil

To enable WinFossil for a particular port

1. 	Click here to start the WinFossil Control Panel application.

1. 	Select the port identifier.

2. 	Check the box marked ‘Enable FOSSIL’.

3. 	Adjust the settings for the port as required.

4. 	Click OK to save your settings.

Tips

•	WinFossil can enable up to 16 ports.  The port identifier is a value from 0 to 15 and has a default mapping to COM1 to COM16 respectively.  You may change any port identifier to map to different device name.  For example, you may choose to map port ID 3 to LPT1 if you have a parallel modem attached to the printer port.

•	WinFossil is not enabled for any port by default, therefore, you must select the “Enable FOSSIL” option for each port you wish to have accessible by FOSSIL applications.


How to install VFOSSIL with WinFossil

To install VFOSSIL with WinFossil

1. 	If you have been installing VFOSSIL in your AUTOEXEC.BAT, you should move this operation into your main “BBS.BAT” file.

2. 	Install a line VFOS_IBM (or whatever is appropriate for your version of VFOSSIL) in your BBS.BAT before starting the mailer or BBS program.

3. 	Install a line VFOS_DEL (or again, whatever is appropriate for your version of VFOSSIL) in your BBS.BAT before exiting to the MS-DOS prompt  for system shutdown.

Tips

•	WinFossil installs application hooks for each specific MS-DOS session.  VFOSSIL has been known to incorrectly handle simultaneous access from multiple processes.  WinFossil resolves this problem by allowing this TSR to be installed independently in each MS-DOS session.


How to use WinFossil with non-standard IRQs and/or ports

To use WinFossil with non-standard IRQs and/orports

WinFossil does not require any special configuration information for non-standard IRQs and/or ports.  If the port is properly configured for Windows 95, simply specifying the port name to WinFossil is sufficient.


How to uninstall WinFossil

To uninstall WinFossil

1. 	Click here to start the Add/Remove Control Panel application.

1. 	Select WinFossil.

2. 	Click the Add/Remove button.  Uninstallation will proceed.

3. 	Click OK when the process is completed.


Registration Information

Registering WinFossil:

WinFossil is SHAREWARE, you are granted a 30-day trial period after which you are expected to pay the license fee (US$ 10.00) if you continue to use this product.  Non-US registrations add US$5.00 for shipping and handling.  Please see LICENSE.TXT for further legal ramblings.

Automated registration is available through CompuServe’s Shareware Registration (GO SWREG).  WinFossil’s registration ID is 9117.

All other registrations must be handled through the mail service:

Woodruff Software Systems

1020 SW 10th St.

North Bend, WA 98045


License Information

License:

DEFINITION OF SHAREWARE

Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details -- some request registration while others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with printed manual.

Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad ones!) The main difference is in the method of distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For example, some authors require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware.

Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it.

DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT

Users of WinFossil must accept this disclaimer of warranty: WinFossil is supplied as is.  The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose.  The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of WinFossil.

WinFossil is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge to the user for evaluation.  Feel free to share it with your friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of another system.  The essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal computer users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products.  If you find this program useful and find that you are using WinFossil and continue to use WinFossil after a reasonable trial period, you must make a registration payment of $10.00 US to Woodruff Software Systems.

The $10.00 US registration fee will license one copy for use on any one computer at any one time.  You must treat this software just like a book.  An example is that this software may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from one computer location to another, so long as there is no possibility of it being used at one location while it's being used at another. Just as a book cannot be read by two different persons at the same time.

Commercial users of WinFossil must register and pay for their copies of WinFossil within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn.  Site-License arrangements may be made by contacting Woodruff Software Systems.

Anyone distributing WinFossil for any kind of remuneration must first contact Woodruff Software Systems at the address below for  authorization.  This authorization will be automatically granted  to distributors recognized by the (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin offering WinFossil immediately (However Woodruff Software Systems must still be advised so that the distributor can be kept up-to-date with the  latest version of WinFossil.).

You are encouraged to pass a copy of WinFossil along to your friends for evaluation.  Please encourage them to register their copy if they find that they can use it.  All registered users will receive a copy of the latest version of the WinFossil system.

Woodruff Software Systems

1020 SW 10th St.

North Bend, WA 98045

email:	woodruff@halcyon.com

www:	http://www.halcyon.com/woodruff/www

ftp:	ftp://ftp.halcyon.com/local/woodruff

FidoNet:	1:343/294 (+1 206 888 2407)


Enable WinFossil Control
Marking this checkbox enables the port for WinFossil control, if this is not enabled, WinFossil lets all requests for this port pass-through to default handlers.


Port Identifier
The port identifier is a value from 0 to 9 identifying the port to WinFossil.  This is also the port ID used by FOSSIL-aware applications.


Port Name
This is the name of the port assigned to the identifier which allows you to map a device ID to a named device such as LPT1 or COM3.  The default mapping is COMn+1 where n is the port ID.  For example, port ID 0 maps to COM1 by default.


Buffer Size
This is the size of the respective buffer for the selected port.  Larger buffers may be required for higher baud rates.  16K is usually sufficient for all rates.


Locked Baud Rate
This setting optionally forces a port to a fixed (or locked) baud rate.  When specified, FOSSIL-aware applications can not affect the baud rate of the specified port.