WWW/LX Version 3 Product Description

Back to WWW/LX Version 3

ARCHITECTURE

We have taken a first step in this version to implement elements of a new approach to the product architecture. What we are trying to achieve is a structure that will allow This is a long standing item for us, and represent a long-range plan to provide faster maintenance cycles for the programs (and you, the customer!) as well as allow us more flexibility when adding features and clients.

Some elements of this restructuring are already in place in the package we will release. You may wish to read more in Tony's excellent documentation for RoboNews/LX about this topic.

I believe this design will make the product much more valuable.

SUPPORT

The WWW/LX Version 3 package represents a significant move forward for us. The move towards a new architecture, an addition of a brilliant new product, incorporating support for advanced Internet protocols - all these items should give you a sense that we are moving forward with this product.

As the Internet is advancing rapidly and implements more protocols and tools, we will be able to respond to some of them through our support venue. In many cases, the prior version can work just fine and will perform to the satisfaction of the user. In some cases, new features can only be supported in WWW/LX Version 3.

WWW/LX V3

WWW/LX is the component which manages the communications with the Internet. It performs services for the other two components (clients), and other client programs we have. It is also sometimes referred to as the "TCP/IP Engine". TCP/IP is the pair of protocols used on the internet, and WWW/LX is familiar with this "language" and thus can "speak" with other servers on the Internet.

There were several specific items added to this version to support the other clients, specifically Post/LX's IMAP support and some commands for Robot/LX.

POST/LX V3

Post/LX is the email client in the "package". It has been updated with a number of small adjustments to the interface with the Email Servers. As you well know, there is a constant move in the Internet and various details continuously change and must be adjusted for.

The BIG news in Post/LX is the addition of IMAP support. The underlying principle to us is that we target the product primarily for mobile users, not deskbound users. With this in mind, we felt comfortable to pick the elements of the protocol that support a mobile workstyle. We included only elements that we felt are relevant to mobile users.

We realize that not everyone will find our choice to be optimal to their specific needs, and we invite you to comment on the set of features we chose, as well as voice your views on what other features may be useful to add. We take seriously your comments. In fact, IMAP support is one of the long standing feedback items.

As with WWW/LX V3, we are including Post/LX in the design effort as I described above.

ROBONEWS/LX

This is a new product for us. It was conceived by Tony Hutchins, and with able support from Andreas Garzotto, this has become the replacement product for News/LX. This product has a wider feature set than its predecessor, and it also incorporates elements of the redesign that we are subjecting the entire package to. As such it is a valuable addition to our programs.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Once again, my gratitude goes to our gifted authors and the Beta group which is relentless in its demanding standards. And my thanks to all of you, our customers, and potential customers, for your interest in our products and continued support! Thank you.

Avi Meshar
President and Chief Executive Officer
D&A Software
http://www.dasoft.com

Back to WWW/LX Version 2

INTRODUCTION

ARCHITECTURE OF WWW/LX

There three major components in WWW/LX Plus:

• A "TCP/IP Engine" which manages all the aspects of connection to the Internet and your ISP (Internet Service Provider). The program in charge of this is WWW.EXE.
• Graphical WWW document viewer (HV.EXE), which interprets and "paints" the documents on the Palmtop screen.
• POST/LX which manages email sending/receiving, Newsgroup articles sending/receiving, the management of messages in folders, and the GUI (Graphical User Interface) on the screen. The programs involved are POST.EXE and NEWS.EXE.

FEATURES

• HV - HTML Viewer

  This program interprets and "paints" World Wide Web (WWW) documents on the Palmtop screen. It supports HTML 3.0 specifications.
  - GIF images is supported inline, surrounded by text, while JPEG images are supported via an external viewer specified by the customer. (We recommend LXPIC by Stefan Peichl, a link to which is provided our our Web page.) Image display may be toggled on and off.
  - HTTP access is supported and file downloading using FTP is supported as well.
  - HV implements Hotlists (also called "bookmarks" by other browsers) which may be updated online.
  - HV can also be run on its own to view Web pages copied into the Palmtop.
  - Forms are supported, even large forms*.
  - Online help is available while using HV by pressing the F1 key.
  - HV may be started with a "grabbed" URL*.

• POST/LX

  - This client provides support for email, newsgroups, message management and the screen GUI.
  - Extensive context-sensitive* help is available by pressing the F1 key.
  - Email items can specify attachments*, transparent* MIME encoding and decoding is implemented. Cc: and Bcc: are supported*. Other headers may be created on-the-fly during message composition.
  - The addressbook is ASCII* format, and may be easily edited and rapidly searched. Multiple* addressbooks are supported. Addresses may be "grabbed"* from the screen and appended* to the addressbook. Mail lists* are supported.
  - A Template for messages is created automatically*, for email and newsgroups, and may be modified and saved at a later time. Signature files are supported. Replied messages are automatically quoted*.
  - RPA* and APOP* authentication are supported. RPA is used by the CSI Internet Email.

• NEWS/LX

  - This client provides the connection management with various news groups.
  - Multiple newsgroups are processed in one session. Different servers may be specified for each newsgroup*. Moderated newsgroups are supported. Newsgroups requiring authentication are supported.
  - Replied messages are automatically quoted*. If MSG-ID header is present in the replied message the Reference will be kept in the reply.
  - A template for newsgroup replies is automatically created during setup*, and may be modified and saved at any time later.
  - Filtering by size of message, as well as the presence of specified keywords in their subject field.

• MESSAGE MANAGEMENT

  - Messages may be left on the ISP email server*, or deleted at any time*, read or unread*. Servers which deleted messages during scans are supported* to prevent loss of messages. Multiple mailboxes may be processed in one online session.
  - Message size limitation may be specified for each mailbox. Mail headers scan only* is supported, or one may specify to download only the header and a certain number of lines from each message*.
  - Messages may be filtered into specific folders. Messages saved in non-mail folders "know" which email box to use when replying*.
  - Message folders may be sorted* by subject, date, From: address, and To: address. All Internet headers are supported*. Headers to be displayed during message reading may be selected*.
  - Deleted messages are removed by an internal pack function*, on demand, or at session termination.
  - Message folders may be archived, so message files that tend to grow files over time may be moved to other subdirectories, or off the Palmtop.

• GUI

  - Navigation during message viewing optimized* to several one-key functions. Status indicators on the screen have been optimized*.
  - Deleted messages do not show up* on the screen. Deleted messages may be undeleted prior to repack*.
  - Message date display may be toggled. The To: field and From: field may be displayed interchangeably (one or the other.)
  - Time online is displayed on the screen if WWW.EXE is present*. The active Setup name from WWW.CFG will be displayed on the screen*.
  - Zoom to different font sizes is supported*, two sizes in list views, and three sizes in message view.
  - External programs menu is supported.
  - Lines containing certain content can be highlighted by specifying the filter.
  - Message folders may be created on-the-fly, during the move/copy.

• WWW/LX

  - Implements a full TCP/IP stack, and supports communication protocols SLIP, PPP, and direct connection.
  - Memory requirements reduced(!) by 15K*. Demo mode is available, see Availability/Download section below.
  - Many modifications (increased timeouts, more specific TCP options (MaxSegmentSize), support for CCP protocol, hardware handshaking, more readable WWW.CAC, automatic update of address cache, and several more...) that are mostly not "visible" to the user, but make the product work more smoothly.
  - Connection may be scripted (supported via a script "language"), or CHAP (used by most ISPs).
  - Dynamic IP assignment is supported (used by majority of ISP).
  - Configuration for multiple ISPs may be set up and retained, switched easily from a screen, or by override parameters. The default configuration file created during setup process contains several "Setups" which describe cost of the connection parameters required for several large ISP. Others may be easily adapted by copying similar Setups, within the configuration file.
  - Accepts an override of ISP to connect to from Post/LX*.
  - Certain "problematic" servers supported*.

• GENERAL

  - The package is small enough to run POST/LX and use Memo to reply, and then go online (i.e. inside System Manager).
  - Nofiddle is provided to prevent System Manager from interfering with the serial port*. (Author requests that I note that "nofiddle" is a feature and not lack of a violin. He plays the violin .)

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

• The documentation provided with the programs represents an major effort by D&A Software, the authors and its Beta testers as well as many suggestions by customers, and it contains a wealth of information. Most of the information necessary to run the programs is there.
• Our Web page provides many FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) for our products, including WWW/LX Plus.
• We maintain a strong presence and participation in the HPHAND Forum in Compuserve, and in the HPLX Mailing List. D&A personnel, the authors, and many very knowledgeable beta testers and customers frequent these venues and provide from their experience and knowledge as well.
• D&A Software maintains an email helpline attended by humans (not automatic responders!) at

  support@dasoft.com

  We strive to respond within 24 hours to all inquiries.
• Lastly, you may use the telephone. Our telephone is quite busy, and it is usually the worst way to reach us for help. We usually cannot return telephone calls because of time and expense.

AVAILABILITY

Cost: US$ 89.00

We accept Mastercard, VISA, and Amex. Checks are also acceptable in USD only, and will delay processing the order until they clear through our bank.

DOWNLOAD: You may also download the program from our Web page to try it out. The download package contains the FULL product, but it is limited in being able to transmit only 16K per session, then it stops. You may restart the program as many times as you wish, and try it out. We believe that this limitation strikes a balance between the customers' need to try before purchasing and making this a "demo" only. You can send and receive several emails, and visit one or two sites on the Web.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

• The authors of the product have worked relentlessly to implement suggestions and technical specifications under extremely tight constraints!
• The Beta Testers Group is the BEST there is. They unrelenting, demanding, unyielding, and vocal. They represent the most powerful users and the most wide range of requirements to the authors.
• The Pal group under the leadership of Gilles Kohl. They created a library of C language functionality that implements the familiar HP Palmtop System Manager GUI even when the program is run outside System Manager, providing a familiar "look and feel".

Avi Meshar D&A Software

May 11, 1999

Back