At-Your-Service 1.2 is a HyperCard communications package that -
• provides a toolkit for installing self contained communications capabilities into new or existing stacks. The installed facilities provide a fast, simple and secure way of launching multiple, simultaneous communication sessions.
• is based upon Apple's Communications Toolbox technology, consequently connectivity is only limited by the range of Connection and Terminal Emulation tools that are available on your machine.
(N.B. The package comes bundled with a public domain TCP/IP/telnet tool and Apple's VT102 terminal emulation tool).
• includes 'communications' extensions to HyperCard's scripting language (HyperTalk) to provide a powerful communications scripting facility.
The package is designed around the concept of a ‘service’, which is defined as any process running on a local or remote computer, eg. an Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) or a Campus Wide Information System (CWIS). A service is uniquely defined via a series of 15 parameters that describe attributes such as the name, service type, the method used to connect to the service, the login and logout scripts, etc.
The hub of the package is the AYS Installer stack that is responsible for maintaining service definitions by providing facilities for creation, storage and testing. As the name implies the stack is also responsible for installing/removing definitions into/from other stacks, therefore enabling the creation of custom built communication stacks or the addition of communications facilities to existing stacks.
Installed service definitions allow for multiple, simultaneous sessions to be active at any one time. A typical session might therefore include a serial connection to your local OPAC in one window, whilst another window displays information from a CWIS, and a third displays a remote network connection to a second OPAC.
The second stack included with the package, the AYS Example stack is a stand-alone communications ‘application’ that is intended both as an example of what can be achieved as well as a useful, ready-to-use utility.
Although originally intended as a tool for librarians to connect to remote OPAC's AYS can as easily be used for other purposes including production control, development and administration.
What Is Supplied.
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HyperCard Stacks :
AYS Installer stack
AYS Example stack
Comms. Tools etc :
TGE TCP tool (Public domain tcp/ip/telnet tool)
Serial Connection tool
Apple Moden tool
TTY Terminal Emulation tool (+TTY Font)
VT102 Terminal Emulation tool (+VT102 Font).
Documentation :
Read-Me-First
Abstract
Installation Instructions
Getting Started
User Manual
Cost.
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The two stacks that are distributed will only launch communication sessions that will remain active for 5 minutes, after which they will automatically terminate.
Upon activation of the AYS Installer stack the operator is invited to enter a code that will neutralise this mechanism and allow the launching of sessions with unlimited time spans. The code may be purchased from the contact address below for $30.00 per copy or a $300 per site licence (this price includes both stacks and Communications Toolbox tools).
[NB. A site licence is required wherever 10 or more copies of AYS are distributed or were AYS is used to install service(s) and supporting software into one or more target stacks of which 10 or more copies are distributed.]
Where You Can Find It.
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AYS is a shareware product available to be downloaded from the following anonymous ftp sites :
mac.archive.umich.edu
sumex-aim.stanford.edu
If you require any further information please mail a contact address to either tim.barlow@lib.utas.edu.au or to the contact address below.
