TECHNICAL BULLETIN #80 - Rev 1.20 (9/05/96)

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TITLE   : Binary File Transfer (BFT)
PRODUCT : Procomm Plus 4.x, 3.x
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Although Procomm Plus' fax support is mainly used to send fax images, it can
also be used to transfer a binary file.  Binary File Transfer (BFT) is a
feature incorporated into PROCOMM PLUS for Windows' Class 1 fax support.  This
document describes how it works and provides some tips on configuring Procomm
Plus.

WHAT IS A BFT?
Transferring a file with BFT is similar to transferring a file between two
computers using a conventional file transfer protocol, such as ZMODEM or
Kermit.  The primary difference is that a BFT occurs within the framework of a
fax transmission.  The page framing information that is normally used to
encapsulate a page of fax data is instead used to encapsulate binary data,
such as a program or data file.  To send a file with BFT, select files from
your disk drive in the same manner that you would select files to be faxed.
In the "Select Fax Document(s) to Send" window, there is a "Binary Send"
checkbox.  Make sure that this checkbox is checked after selecting the
file(s) to send with BFT.

When you receive a BFT, the binary data is stored on disk just like normal fax
data.  Because of the way the data is encapsulated and transmitted, a BFT
cannot include the name and the creation date of the original file.  Instead,
a file received via BFT is named using the same method as a fax, numbered
sequentially in the order in which it is received, and placed in the received
fax log.

When a BFT file is listed in your received fax log, you must save the file to
extract the data contained within the BFT before you can access the data as a
normal binary file.  The process of saving the BFT from the received fax log
causes Procomm plus to 'strip out' the BFT header information and save only
the binary portion of the file.  When a fax file is selected in the received
fax log, there will be a "View" push-button in the window.  When a BFT file is
selected, the "View" button will change to "Save".  Until you select the
"Save" button, you will not be able to access a BFT as an actual binary file
on your hard drive.

Although BFT is faster than sending a fax image, conventional file transfer
protocols such as ZMODEM and Kermit have faster data transfer rates and they
don't require the intermediate step of saving the file from the received fax
log before the file can be accessed.  A conventional file transfer is
suggested if the sending and receiving systems have access to conventional
file transfer protocols.

There are a number of different variations of the BFT protocol in use. Procomm
plus supports all of the BFT standards currently in use.

Important things to remember about BFT's:

* BFT can only be used with a fax modem that supports Class 1.  It will not
  work in a Class 2 setup.

* BFT only works when error-correction is enabled.  If the PW2.INI file has
  "FECM=00", then error-correction is disabled.  Remove that line or change
  "00" to "11".

* A BFT file cannot include the name and date information of the source file.

* A BFT file must be saved from the receive fax log to remove the BFT header
  information before it can be accessed as a binary file.

* A BFT may not be as efficient as conventional file transfers using a
  protocol such as ZMODEM.

* A BFT is more efficient than sending an image as a fax.

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           Copyright (c) 1996 Quarterdeck  All rights reserved.
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