dL4 and dL4Term Version 4.4 Now Available

   Migrate from UniBasic and IMS/Basic  

New dL4 Term here!


Launch PC applications from your Unix Applications
Direct printer output to Windows Printers

 
MARKETING ANNOUNCEMENTS:
 
Dynamic Concepts announces the immediate availability of dL4 version 4.4 for Unix, Windows and dL4Term.  This update adds a number of compatibility enhancements and new GUI functions and features when deploying dL4 for Windows or dL4Term with Unix.
 
As part of our strategy to migrate UniBasic developers to dL4, this version includes many new features and compatibility options to simplify the process.  It is our goal to assist developers in completing their UniBasic to dL4 migration by mid-2002.  If you or your clients need assistance with this process, our technical services department is ready to help.
 
IMS/Basic developers will find this release highly compatible with their existing applications and datafiles.  An updated IMS/Migration package is available to assist with the process.  Developer and end-user conversions continue, as IMS customers discover the proven benefits of the dL4 environment.
 
dL4 for Windows is now licensed just like our Unix products, supporting passport devices or machine specific software license numbers.  The optional Passport device is available from DCI, at no charge, only when licensing multi-user server installations.  Software licensing is used when installing dL4 for Windows on individual client PC's.  A replacement SSN, available at no-charge from DCI, is required to run this release.
 
Printing reports to Windows printers, without configuring your Unix system for each printer, makes dL4Term the emulator of choice for local, as well as remote users.  The standard Windows Printer Dialog Box pops up whenever your application opens the driver.  No application modifications are required.  Remotely launch client PC applications from your application.  For example, build a spreadsheet and launch Microsoft Excel on the client's PC.  You can even put MS/Office tools on your menu and launch them directly from your application.
 
dL4Term is a separately available and licensed product.  Licenses are available at no charge when purchasing UniBasic or dL4, as well as to users covered by Software Assurance.
 
 
FOR THE TECHNICAL CROWD:
  • An optional separate buffer for WCQUERY results to simplify GUI programming
  • Support for character attributes such as reverse video in windows on terminals where changing attributes uses a visible space on the screen (magic cookies).   Such terminals include the Wyse 50, Televideo 925, and emulations of those terminals
  • A new option to simulate character attributes as a visible space on any terminal
  • Support for sending commands to a dL4Term client to execute local Windows programs
  • Support for opening a local Windows printer on a dL4Term client on a channel
  • Support for auxillary printing to a local Windows printer using BA/EA, BO/EO and AE/AD mnemonics
  • CALL WHOLOCK(), for Unix, determines what port has locked a specific record
  • A DATEUSING$() intrinsic function to format dates
  • Extensions to improve compatibility with other IRIS compatible Business BASIC languages
Some of the new features of dL4 for Unix are supported only when using the dL4Term 4.4 telnet client, such as remote application launch and GUI options.
 
IMS/Basic UPDATE:
 
Following several months of development and testing by IMS users and dealers converting to dL4, this release includes dozens of popular IMS Calls,  the ability to read converted IMS data files and language extensions designed to simplify and streamline the migration of applications.  Contact DCI if you need a copy of the IMS Migration toolkit.
 
PASSPORT CONSIDERATIONS AND WARNING:

Unix installations require Passport 3.1 or higher and an SSN for version 4.  If you are already running on dL4 version 4, no new SSN or upgrade to the passport is required to install this new release.

Windows installations require Passport 2.1.3 or higher and a new SSN.  The platform for Windows licenses has changed from FE to 1B.  Existing FExxxxxx licenses cannot be used with the new Passport or the new dL4 for Windows, however the new Passport software, license numbers and SSN's may be used with older versions of dL4.  DCI will no longer issue FE licenses.  To add additional users at a site will require the installation of the new Passport software.

The new Passport for Windows, version 2.1.4, is included within dL4 for Windows 4.4.  This new version operates similar to Unix licensing and supports either a passport device or machine specific SSN (1Bxxxxxx license).  Replacement SSN's for users already licensed for version 4.x will be made available as no-charge replacements.  Please provide the old and new license number when contacting DCI. 

Passport devices plug into any unused COM port.  For systems without legacy COM ports, the passport device will connect to a USB port, however you will need to acquire a USB to COM adaptor.  We have tested the Passport device on USB using a Belkin USB/COM adaptor.  For software licensing, Passport only supports systems that have an Ethernet card.  Due to OS limitations, Windows 95 systems do not support software licensing.

SSNs for Passport 2.1.3 or later are machine specific (like Unix) and may not be installed on more than one system. Unlike previous versions of dL4 for Windows, the number of simultaneous dL4 sessions will be restricted to the licensed number of users, plus three phantom ports or secondary window sessions.  For example, a single-user license, installed on a PC, will run up to 4 interactive and/or phantom sessions.  Server installations will run the licensed number of concurrent sessions, plus three phantoms.

If you are upgrading an existing Windows installation, you may perform the following steps, on each system, to generate new software license number(s) without installing the upgrade.  Each system must have an Ethernet network interface card and be running Windows 98 or a later revision of Windows.  Remember, the old SSN will not work after upgrading either dL4 or Passport and software licensing is not available for Windows 95.  These instructions allow you to determine the license number in order to obtain a replacement SSN from DCI before installing the upgrade. 

To determine the old and new software license number for a Windows system:

  • From the Windows START Menu, select Programs, Passport, ssnmaint
  • Note the existing license number (FExxxxxx)
  • Save the following two (2) download files to a local directory or drive, such as A: or C:
  • download:  ftp://ftp.dynamic.com/dist/pub/1B/passport.Win32/ssnmaint.exe
  • download:  ftp://ftp.dynamic.com/dist/pub/1B/passport.Win32/passport.dll
  • In the Windows START Menu, select Run... and enter command to launch a command shell
  • Use the CD command to select the local directory or drive letter containing the above 2 files
  • Execute the command (note the lowercase "l"):   .\ssnmaint.exe -l
  • Note the new License number displayed in the message box (1Bxxxxxx)
  • Contact your installer with both license numbers to obtain replacement SSN's
Download the software at:  http://www.dynamic.com/dist/pub   Select your platform:  1B-Windows, 99-SCO, 6D-Linux, 07-AIX, 1A-Solaris.  Make sure you choose the 4.4 versions.  ReadMe files are included within the distribution. 
 
For further information, review the Unix ReadMe, Windows ReadMe and dL4Term ReadMe files.  
To view the ReadMe information without downloading the software, check out:
 

dL4 Unix ReadMe:    http://www.dynamic.com/dist/pub/99/dl4/4.4.txt 
dL4 Windows ReadMe: http://www.dynamic.com/dist/pub/1B/dl4/4.4.txt 
Passport ReadMe:    http://www.dynamic.com/dist/pub/1B/passport.Win32/2.1.4.txt
dL4Term ReadMe:     http://www.dynamic.com/dist/pub/1B/dl4term/4.4.txt

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