Xy and on-line sessions (4GB)

[Carl Distefano 70154.3452@xxxxxxxx]

Otis Port says:
-> .... Unlike DesqView, OS/2 won't allow two comm apps to be
-> open at the same time, even if one is inactive. Do you know
-> if B&F under OS/2 gets around this?

A heavy-duty OS like OS/2 has to be fastidious about letting apps
access physical devices, like COM ports. To do otherwise in a true
multitasking environment would be to risk conflicts, crashes and, more
likely than not, the loss of valuable data.

OTOH, it's not true that OS/2 invariably "won't allow two [or more]
comm apps to be open at the same time". It depends on whether one of
the apps is addressing the COM port when another tries to access it.
Some apps keep the port occupied whether or not there is an on-line
connection.  Others, like the CompuServe Information Manager for OS/2
(CIM-OS/2), are well-behaved and free up the port when not actually
connected. I have often gone on-line via ProComm (DOS) with CIM-OS/2
up and running in the background. The converse won't work: You can't
connect with CIM-OS/2 while ProComm is idling in the background;
ProComm won't let go of the port.

It's a point worth investigating when shopping for comm programs.

--------------
Carl Distefano
70154.3452@xxxxxxxx