Re: [NTLK] Request for information

From: Victor Rehorst (victor_at_newtontalk.net)
Date: Wed Jul 20 2005 - 11:52:22 PDT


Matt Howe wrote:
> Hi,
> Can anyone out there give me a line by line exchange between a Newton and
> NCU? Obviously not an entire session, but the opening session that brings
> you to the menu? I am looking at making a Sync utility for Windows XP. I
> hope to eventually make it TCP/IP compatible. My plan is to start with a
> simple link up via com port, then a simple export from the Newton. Next an
> import to the Newton and finally switch functionality to the TCP/IP
> protocol. The ideal situation would be to have the utility support both
> serial and TCP/IP. And to be built in two pieces. The first piece would
> create a file to hold the Import/export info for the Newton. The second
> piece would vary depending on what you were syncing to. I do have all of the
> DIL documentation but I can't seem to make sense of it. If I could just see
> what the exchange looks like I think I can figure it out. So, any hints
> would be appreciated.

Matt, basicially, if you want to go about interfacing via TCP/IP on Win32 you
have four options (besides implementing your own thing from the ground up)

1) Use the DILs to make your connection. The DIL support TCP/IP connections
though IIRC this part is highly undocumented. Proof: Thomas Tempelmann's DIL
tester, written in RealBASIC, can make a TCP/IP connection to a Newton using
the DIL on Windows.

2) Implement the newtSync protocol for Windows. This, actually, is a pretty
good idea. The protocol is straightforward and sort of documented here:

http://web.archive.org/web/20031208122007/www.everchanging.com/newton/protocol_doc.html

That way you won't have to go mucking around with the Dock protocol, and can
use the NewtSync client instead. (Isn't the NewtSync source code around
somewhere?)

3) Port the DCL to Win32, and use it. Since it already compiles under
Linux/x86, your best bet would be to install Cygwin and try to get it to
compile there.
http://www.kallisys.com/newton/dcl/

4) Poke, prod, annoy, and beg Steve Weyer to add a TCP/IP endpoint to Sloup!

-- 
Victor Rehorst - victor_at_newtontalk.net - chuma_at_chuma.org
NewtonTalk list administrator - http://www.newtontalk.net
Will the last person to leave the platform please turn off the backlight?
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