At-Your-Service 2.1 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 several tools including 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 an extremely 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 16 parameters that describe attributes such as the name, service type, the method used to connect to the service, the terminal emulation, if any, to be used, 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. The latest release of HyperCard (2.2) now allows such stacks to be made into stand-alone applications.
An installed service definition may be used to either initiate a connection or listen for an incoming connection (depending on the capabilities of the configured connection tool). This later 'listening' mode of operation permits the creation of simple HyperCard 'server' facilities. Service definitions may also be created that do not display an associated window, (terminal emulation) thus allowing for the creation of communications graphical-user-interface front-ends.
Service definitions also 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.
Three example stacks are included that are intended both as examples of what can be achieved as well as useful, ready-to-use utilities.
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 #1
AYS Example stack #2
AYS Example stack #3
Comms. Tools etc :
TGE TCP tool (Public domain tcp/ip/telnet tool)
Serial Connection tool
Apple Modem tool
Apple ADSP Tool
TTY Terminal Emulation tool (+TTY Font)
VT102 Terminal Emulation tool (+VT102 Font).
Documentation :
Read-Me-First
Abstract
Installation Instructions
Getting Started
User Manual
What they say about AYS
Cost.
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The four 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 password that will neutralise this mechanism and allow the launching of sessions with unlimited time spans. The password may be purchased from the contact address below for -
$30.00 for a single licence
$300.00 for a lab/dept. licence.
$600.00 for a site licence.
These prices includes the three stacks and the Communications Toolbox tools.
[NB. A dept/site licence is required wherever 10 or more copies of AYS are distributed or where 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 a number of anonymous ftp sites, including -
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.
