atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Procomm plus

Back in the old days, before Al Gore created the internet, computers had an operating system known as MSDOS. People used this MSDOS and found it was good. This was the age of mainframes and green screens. Soon the people acquired serial ports and modems. They yearned for communication between themselves, these mainframes and what were called back then BBS's. Procomm was written by Datastorm to satisfy this need. As some of you may remember, in those days programs were written to do one thing and to do it right. So a voice of reason was heard coming out of Seattle, "Wouldn't a shell that does a lot but not very well be better?". Thus Windows was born. People used this Windows and found it mediocre, especially the included terminal program. Procomm for Windows emerged in time to prevent the revolt that was sure to happen. People used this new Procomm for Windows and found it was good. Over the ages the Procomm was sold to Quarterdeck and then to Symantec, where it now rests peacefully and unsupported on the new XP operating system.

There are issues with using hypertyerminal for programming some systems. The first one that comes to mind is the Executone IDS.

I've always hated Procomm. I use Telix instead, it's shareware, has a windows version, and very powerful scripting. The DOS version works fine on XP. As far as I can tell, it does everything Procomm does.

Anyone that wants a copy of it, I'll send you the officially released complete shareware zip file, as requested by the author. Since the author requests this type of distribution, there shouldn't be any problems with sharing it here. Send me an email with which version you want.

I had some issues with HyperTerminal and Mitel remote programming and asked about the situation in the Mitel forum. Someone suggested downloading Hyperterminal Private Edition 6 (free download) and I did. It quickly solved my problems. I have never really had a use for ProComm nor ProComm Plus. I think I have discs somewhere---but it's been 6-7 years since I have seen them. I also have quite a few discs of other Comm programs---but really, have never needed them either.

not that i would condone it but google for "procomm for dos download" will get you a pretty old dos version.

Thank you ZMAN, I truthfully had no idea that Procomm was out there, I guess because I never need to use it for anything as I was just told to use Hyperterminal and that always worked.

I've seen PC Anywhere but always assumed it was for people working from home or having your guru log in to clean up some virus or worm or whatever.

Knowing that they need to be loaded on both is good info and I will stay away from them.

Thanks for the info on Executone Paul, thankfully I have never programmed one, my head is already full of mush from other systems.

Mr. Junkman what systems do you use Telix to program? I assume you are loading it on a XP machine and then entering the DOS mode to use it or is there some system where you are able use it in standard XP mode?

JW, do you use Hyperterminal Private for anything other than Mitel? I've used hyperterminal on Samsung voicemail and on Toshiba to show the smdr is putting out the data. That is about all I have used Hyperterminal for and so far I have not had a problem. Should everyone who uses Hyperterminal download the Private version or was it only with the Mitel that you had a problem.

I don't mean to be a total dufus here, but I've have very limited need for Hyperterminal and just don't have a lot of info on what systems require Procomm or Hyperterminal.

Thanks for the info, I do appreciate it, Bunnie

Bunnie:
I was getting "gibberish" on some of the Mitel forms with Hyperterminal. I could program, but the screens just didn't look right and it made things difficult. The PE6 cleared it right up. Mitel support was telling me it was my settings or to use ProComm Plus. I'm just to cheap I guess. I don't think everyone needs the PE6, but it's free.
I have also used ECOM which is Vodavi's communication software---but I used it on Comdials DSU I & DSU II. The only reasons that I didn't use Hyperterminal was that ECOM just looked different and had some "lights" that lit up when sending or receiving. I was sort of neat.

If you have ever programmed a large Nortel PBX you will thank the telecom gods for Procomm. Nortels required entering every NXX and every NPA for their BARS ans NARS. Procomm made scripting pretty easy...set your start and stop number range and walk away. Saved MANY hours per site.

If you had to ever program a large Rolm pbx , you would thank your lucky stars for procom plus . It was/is number 1 butterfly software .

Thanks for the info, I haven't worked on large PBXs so that is why I didn't get familiar with the other stuff.

I will get PE6 for sure, thanks everyone, I've learned a bunch, Bunnie