From: rjones@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Ronald Jones)
Subject: Re: Problems receiving a FAX within os/2 and QL2fax
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 18:24:35 GMT

In article <BtyL5y.n0A@cs.vu.nl> cpbaltus@cs.vu.nl (Baltus CPS) writes:
>Hello all,
> 
>I use the program QL2fax to receive faxes. But, the receive fax
>program is a TSR (terminate and Stay Resident). I don't get it working
>
>Can anybody tell me whether it is possible at all? Or does a OS/2
>fax program exist?
>
>			Stefan.
>
>-- 
>


This is a repost of a review I did on PMFAX.
PMFAX is available from Sofnet Inc., Suite 150, 380 Interstate N. Prwy 
Atlanta GA, $149.00 (612)429-7273.  

PmFax is a native OS/2 product for Faxing.  I have been using PMFax with 
two different Fax/Modems and find that it has solved problems that I had 
using a DOS "box" under OS/2 (VDM).

My hardware consists of two IBM, ISA clones:  a no-name 386-33 and an 
Atronix 486-33, both with 16MB of memory.  The Fax/Modems I have used 
are:  

1. Intel SatisFAXtion 400
2. Image Communications, Twincom 24/96 (internal)

Neither of these Fax/Modems operated properly in a VDM. The Intel was
unreliable on send or receieve using Intel's own FAX software or 
WinFax Pro 2.0.  The Twincom would not even initialize with WinFax Pro 
2.0 or Quick Link II and is listed in the OS/2 Readme file as having 
compatibility problems under OS/2.  I never could get the Twincom FAX to 
work using DOS/Windows programs.  Interestingly, the modem of each was 
operational in an OS/2 VDM using Procomm +. 

PMfax is supposed to be the same program as the less expensive FAXit for 
OS/2 but with added support for the Intel SatisFAXtion board.  I can't 
confirm this but the floppy disk actually is labelled FAXit, although 
the programs were PMfax!  The 87 page manual refers to PMfax.  About a 
third of this manual is Appendix and contains much useful information.  
I found the manual clear and complete if not flashy in appearance.  The 
plain black cover reminds me of some "generic" manuals I've seen (a 
minor nit!).  

The program may remind you of WinFax Pro for windows (which was one of 
my favorite Windows apps before my "conversion").  I find PMfax 
easier to use and more capable than Winfax Pro.  Both offer a 
device driver so that you can FAX from any program that lets you select 
a printer.  I have successfully used Describe, the Enhanced Editor and 
MS Word 2.0a.  OS/2 programs work more smoothly.  I had to switch out of 
MS Word to see the PMfax screens, whereas with an OS/2 program these 
popup over the application.  Transmission is totally background.  You 
can optionally view a small progress window while continuing with your 
other work.

Faxes also can be sent directly from within the PMfax program.  You have 
the ability to build faxes using text and graphics from several 
documents and/or the clipboard.  You have complete control of
character size and font.  Additionally you can fax a document by
DRAGGING its icon to the PMFAXD icon on the desktop.  No special 
pre-formatting is required.  

PMFax handles multiple page faxes directly.  It is not necessary to
break them into single pages for export or for other file manipulations
as is the case for WinFAx Pro.

Some of the best features of PMfax are its edit functions.  It is 
possible to add text to and draw on faxes.  Faxes can be cleaned up and 
resized using the editing tools.  One of my favorites is the EDIT 
REFORMAT PAGE which allows you to select a portion of the page, clean 
out the excess and resize it in one step.  (I used to move my faxed 
documents into ANSEL to clean them up before printing!)  There is also a 
contrast control to darken or lighten color imported color images for
better readibility.  There are the usual flip-rotate controls although 
there is no de-skew capability.

Reading received faxes within the program is well supported.  Although I 
would like to see a continuous sizing (zoom) capability (you are 
limited to just 4 sizes).

The program supports TIFF-F, BMP, DCX/PCX and normal ASCII formats. 
The former is a special TIFF standard intended for faxes.  I was not 
able to transfer this format using ANSEL's TIFF protocol but I could use
PCX to inport a fax into ANSEL for editing.  I hope the TIFF-F catches 
on as it might standardize fax image manipulation in the future.

The manual describes the command tags used to control faxing from 
inside a document.  You are able to insert these "keynames" into ascii 
text and to send the file you simply send the file to the logical 
printer assigned to faxing (LPT2:  in my case) without any further 
program intervention.

The information that came with the software also described a work around
for an OS/2 bug with the "start minimized" function.  The start 
minimized check box in the sessions page is grayed and not selectable.  
It can be made to appear by temporaily changing the name of the program 
on the "Program Page".  After checking "start minimized" on the sessions 
page, you simply change the name back to what it should be.  This works 
fine. I put PMfax in the startup directory so I'm ready to receive faxes
when I start up. This also initialized my Intel SatisFAXtion modem 
without having to use DOS.

I highly recommend this program.  Not only is it superior to any other 
FAX program I have used but it has allowed me to use hardware that I 
was about to pitch!  It is also the "cleanest" solution I know for using
the Intel Satisfaxtion with OS/2.  PMfax is the sort of application that
will make OS/2 because it clearly reveals the superiority of a true 
multitasking OS for this sort of application!

The following list of compatable FAXes has been copied from the PMfax
literature:

ROM types for modems that passed compatability tests:

Adtech Micro Systems	Externally Yours!  (ROM v2.2)	Class-2 Exar old?  
Brooktrout Technology	TR112(OS/2 BTLIB 1.02 or later) use FaxBT.adp
CompuCom Corporation    Speedmodem Combo (ROM v2.77)    class-2 CompuCom
Everex		        EverFax 24/96	          	Class-2 Exar everex
GVC	                FAXMODEM 9624Vbis		Class-1/2 Exar new
Image Communications    TWINCOM 24/96			Class-2 Rockwell
Intel		        SatisFAXtion(original,200,400)	use FaxIS.adp
MultiTech Systems	MultiFaxPC    MT932	        Class-2 MultiTech
Practical Peripherals	2400FX96		        Class-2 Rockwell
Practical Peripherals	2400 SendFAX		        SendFax
TwinCom	                TwinCom v1.13C	                Class-2 Rockwell
ZyXEL		        U-1496 (ROMv4.09c)              Class-2 ZyXEL
Zoltrix		        ZX1896 or Zofax 96/24		SendFax
Zoltrix		      	9624 Class 2(regular)		Class-2 Sierra
Zoltrix		        Class 2 with V.42 MNP		Class-2 Exar old?
Zoom Telephonics        FaxModem FC 9624 (internal)	Class-2 Rockwell
Zoom Telephonics	FaxModem FX 9624 (external)	Class-2 Rockwell 

ROM types for modems not tested but reportedly are compatable:

Best Data		Smart One 9624F		Class-1/2 Rockwell
Dallas Fax		9600/14400		        Class-1/2 Rockwell
Supra Corporation	SupraFAXmodem V.32bis           class-1/2 Rockwell
ViVa			Modem 24fx		      	?
Zoom Telephonics	FVX V32bis and 96v32bis	Class-1/2 Rockwell

Modems that failed compatability testing:

DSI	         digicom 9624LE	SendFax non-spec
Formosa          MoFax MF-96P		SendFax train failure
Omnitel		 624+S/R		SendFax recv failures
Omnitel		 Omnitel v1.10		Class-2 recv failures

Disclaimer:  I have no commercial association with this product and 
these are my unsolicited opinions.  

-- 
 < Ron Jones                   |    E-mail:       rj+@osu.edu   > 
 < The Ohio State University   |    Office:      (614) 292-1665 >
 < 338 West Tenth Avenue       |    FAX:(9-5PM)  (614) 292-7151 > 
 < Columbus, Ohio 43210        |        "eschew obfuscation"    >      
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc