SuperCom ActiveX Control
ActiveX API for
Windows Server, Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows ME/98/95

Asynchronous Serial Communication ActiveX, OCX and COM OLE components for rs-232, rs-422, rs-485.

Serial Port I/O control with protocols ZMODEM, YMODEM, YMODEM-G, XMODEM, XMODEM-1K, KERMIT, MODBUS, 3964, RK512, LSV2. Supporting NET, C#, VB Net. Serial Communication ActiveX and components for asynchronous rs-232, rs-422, rs-485 Supporting NET, C#, C-Sharp,VB Net. Protocols ZMODEM, YMODEM, YMODEM-G, XMODEM, KERMIT, MODBUS, 3964, RK512, LSV2.

Access to high numbered COM ports as COM17, overcome error 8020, KB318784. MSComm In Binary Input Mode, replace PDQComm, SaxComm

Read serial port data.

Serial ActiveX, alternative to MSComm and compatible communication with protocols zmodem xmodem xmodem-1k ymodem Kermit, serial data communication file transfer protocols  zmodem xmodem ymodem ASCII. 64 bit serial port ActiveX control.Communication Solutions by ADONTEC
DEMO    (trial version ?)

Serial Commmunication ActiveX MSComm compatible serial communication with protocols zmodem xmodem ymodem KERMIT, serial data communication and file transfer. 64 bit serial port ActiveX control. Example

     64 Bit Ready
64 Bit

Version 10

Serial Port Communication ActiveX,Control, RS-232, RS-485 Toolkit. ZMODEM, 3964, 3964R, RK512, LSV2, protocol, MSComm compatible Serial ActiveX

Serial Communication ActiveX Control

The SuperCom ActiveX (OLE/COM Control) for serial communications is a professional serial communication ActiveX that can be used to develop serial communication applications to control serial connections and attached serial port devices (RS-232, RS-422, RS-485).

The SuperCom ActiveX for serial communications supports common Windows development environment (IDE, Compiler) and provides the programmer with properties, methods and the events in order to develop serial data communication applications.

The SuperCom ActiveX is also downwards compatible with the MSComm and compatible to PDQComm control and thus very easy to integrate into existing applications (see below how to replace MSComm, PDQComm or SaxComm with ease).

Using the SuperCom ActiveX for serial communications you easily write applications to control serial ports, Modem, Barcode Scanner, Scales, PLC, GPS receiver, POS, serial medical devices, serial printer etc. Develop file transfer and file server application.

With SuperCom the application can execute faster and smoother.

Time is valuable. Developing communication software with the SuperCom serial communication ActiveX is extremely easy and starts by placing the ActiveX icon on a Windows Form.

The SuperCom ActiveX also provides intelligent functions that considerably speed-up the development process and produce fast, reliable solutions avoiding delaying or blocking of your application.

No matter if data monitoring, receiving complex data packets or complex data transmission protocols, establishing connections or file transfer. It can run (without any special accord) optimized and transparently in background thus enabling the application to execute fast and smooth.

Communications Events

Applications using the SuperCom ActiveX can work event driven. The SuperCom ActiveX reports the events OnComm, OnDataPacket, OnConnect and OnFileInfo. The reported events enable the application to manage other tasks simultaneously while communications or file transfer last.

Events

Enhanced Communications Events

The SuperCom Communications ActiveX reports more than 35 different communications events. The enhanced event reporting mechanism in SuperCom ActiveX enables you to receive events on any defined character (e.g. EOF(26), STX, ACK, NAK, etc).

Polling Mode

The SuperCom ActiveX also supports the polling mode of operation. This means to obtain with methods and properties the state of the status lines and to check the data flow for communication errors without the need to react on events.

No matter which mode of operation the application is using, SuperCom will always perform serial data communication on multiple ports or connections simultaneously and in background.

File Transfer

High speed file transfers tasks are very easy to accomplish. The following widely used standard protocols ZMODEM, YMODEM/BATCH, YMODEM, YMODEM-G, XMODEM-1K, XMODEM/CRC, XMODEM, Extended-XMODEM, KERMIT and ASCII are included. The SuperCom ZMODEM protocol includes important features like "crash recovery", 32bit CRC and "batch file transfer". In fact, these protocols are running very stable since 1991.

ActiveX Technology - ActiveX API

It's the same ActiveX control shipped with other SuperCom packages too, like SuperCom for TCP/IP, SuperCom for ISDN, SuperCom 3964 Engine, SuperCom Suite, etc. The runtime license, included with each packet, enables the control to perform serial port connections, TCP/IP, ISDN etc. using one and the same component. That's the SuperCom's concept: One library, one API! Read More.

MSComm Compatible

The SuperCom for Serial Communication ActiveX is compatible with the MSComm control and thus it's very easy to update existing applications using it. Replacing MSComm with SuperCom ActiveX is a fast and smooth operation.

Summary

Using the SuperCom ActiveX up to 255 ports / connections can be opened simultaneously within the same application.

Start as many instances of your application - no limit set.

Lengthy functions like file transfer, connecting, observing the data stream for special data packets or strings, and many other, are working in background while your application is performing other tasks. With SuperCom, Your application does not "freeze" waiting on a lengthy function to complete.

Example 1
(The following briefly shows a simple example of the control operation using Visual Basic)

Visual Basic Sample

   Sub Form_Load()

         ' Select COM2
      SCom.CommPort = 2

         ' is it available ?
      If SCom.PortPresent(SCom.CommID) <> SCOM_PORT_AVAILABLE_READY Then
         Exit Sub   ' COM2 not available
      End If

        ' set comm params
      SCom.Settings = "115200,N,8,1"
        ' activate comm port
      SCom.PortOpen = True
        ' send data
      SCom.Output = "Hello World"
        ' receive data
      s = SCom.Input
          :
        ' close comm port
      SCom.PortOpen = False

   End Sub


   Private Sub SCom_OnComm()  'Event function
    Dim scEvent As Integer

        ' get the event code
      scEvent = SCom.CommEvent()

      If scEvent = SCOMM_EV_SEND Then ' or comEvSend
           ' all data sent, buffer is empty
      End If

      If scEvent = SCOMM_EV_RECEIVE Then ' or comEvReceive
            ' call SCom.Input to collect the received data,...
          Call ReadChars
      End If

      If scEvent = SCOMM_EV_CHAR Then
           ' User defined special char received e.g. EOF (26), NAK, STX
         Call HandleSpecialData
      End If

       :
       :
   End Sub

   Private Sub SCom_OnDataPacket(Action, Data)

      ' The parameter Action informs about the current status.
      ' The parameter Data delivers the captured data packet

      ' OK, data available
     If Action = SCOMM_DATAPACKET_OK Then sAction = "DATAPACKET OK"

      ' failed but some captured data may be available
     If Action = SCOMM_DATAPACKET_NOK Then sAction = "DATAPACKET NOK"

      ' error e.g. some property values provided was wrong
      ' check values of used "DP..." properties
     If Action = SCOMM_DATAPACKET_ERR Then sAction = "DATAPACKET ERR"

      :
      :
  End Sub

  Private Sub SCom_OnFileInfo(Action, Data)
   Select Case Action

     Case SCOM_RXING
        S1 = "RXING"

     Case SCOM_TXING
        S1 = "TXING"

     Case SCOM_RXFIN
        S1 = "RXFIN"

     Case SCOM_TXFIN
        S1 = "TXFIN"

     Case SCOM_QUEUEFIN
         :
         :
     End Select
  End Sub


  Private Sub SCom_OnConnect(Action, TimeLeft)
    If Action = SCOM_CONNECT_FAILED Then
      Debug.Print "CONNECT_FAILED"
    End If
               ' successfully
    If Action = SCOM_CONNECT_OK Then
      Debug.Print "CONNECTED ";
    End If
               ' progress...
    If Action = SCOM_CONNECT_INFO Then
      Debug.Print ".";
    End If
      :
      :
  End Sub

Example 2
(Setup connection)

ActiveX: Client Connection - OnConnect
Visual Basic Sample

  Private Sub SCom1_OnConnect(ByVal Action As Integer, ByVal TimeLeft As Long)

     If Action = SCOM_CONNECT_FAILED Then
       Form4.CTL_INFO.Text = "CONNECT FAILED"
     End If
               ' successfully
     If Action = SCOM_CONNECT_OK Then
       Form4.CTL_INFO.Text = "CONNECTED"
     End If
               ' progress...
     If Action = SCOM_CONNECT_INFO Then
       Form4.CTL_INFO.Text = "CONNECT INFO ..."
     End If

  End Sub

      :
      :

  SCom1.PortOpen=True ' setup a link

  SCom1.ConnectAddress="555-1234"

  SCom1.Connect=True ' now connect
      :

See the same for TCP/IP or ISDN.

The connection setup runs completely in background. The application receives events about the progress. It does not matter which communication link it uses (Serial, TCP/IP or ISDN) it will require one common SuperCom API to use. The learning curve is extremely low with SuperCom!

SuperCom ActiveX API - Features List

Common Features List  (valid for Serial, TCP/IP and ISDN )

 
  • Simultaneously control up to 255 concurrent connections per application
  • Depending on product package, support for Serial (RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, TAPI) ISDN and TCP/IP (see also Software and Features)
  • 100% buffered data transfer
  • Adjustable communication buffers (limited by RAM)
  • Text or Binary data transfer (any char between 0 and 255)
  • Send and receive binary data
  • Send and receive hex strings
  • Send and receive Unicode strings
  • Report the OnPlug event when serial device plugged in or unplugged or when the TCP/IP network changes state (SuperCom with Serial and/or TCP/IP support presumed).
  • It includes nearly all known standard file transfer protocols: ZMODEM, YMODEM/BATCH, YMODEM, YMODEM-G, XMODEM-1K, XMODEM/CRC, XMODEM, KERMIT, Extended XMODEM and ASCII.
  • About 35 different communications events are reported via OnComm, OnDataPacket, OnConnect, OnFileInfo and OnPlug
  • Dynamicaly priority for the data communication (very low to ultra high)
  • Distribute with ease
  • The SuperCom ActiveX can also be used Registry free. No need to register with the registry (very useful with Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 10, Windows 11 and newer. No error 0x80040200.)
  • Regular updates ensure compatibility with upcoming Windows versions and development environments.
  • FREE technical support
  • No Royalties

New and intelligent features in SuperCom for Windows

SuperCom provides intelligent functions that considerably speed-up the development process and produce reliable solutions. More...

  • DataPacket - Receive complete data packets based on some definitions. More...
  • Trigger - Trigger events when custom data packets or strings received. More...
  • DataFilter - Low level data filtering functions e.g. define ready made data filter or inspect and change data while received or transmited with custom functions. More...
  • Data Monitoring1 - Low level data monitoring functions, Integrated Debugging Library
  • Event Reporting - Thread-safe event reporting and synchronization with Windows controls or runtime library.
  • Threaded File Queue - File transmission using queues, working completely in background!
  • Connecting in background - The connection attempt is working completely in background. The application does not freeze!
  • Extended XMODEM protocol. XMODEM compatible incl. ZMODEM like features. The Extended XMODEM protocol offers buffers up to 64K for high speed file transfers, File Options (transmit file names, request a file from the sender, compare date, size etc.).
  • ZMODEM File Options - Instructions for the file receiver.
  • ZMODEM/8k block option and the powerful ADONTEC extension ZMODEM/32k (ZMODEM/64k shipped on request). More...
  • KERMIT Protocol
  • Integrated TAPI support.
  • Very Large Rx and Tx Buffers - Overcome known limitations.
  • Sharing Connections (e.g. TCP/IP or Serial) with a third party library is usually possible.

... and many other functions and protocol extensions.

____
1 Requires a SuperCom DUAL API package (see also Software and Features)

Especially for RS-232, RS-422, RS-485

 
  • Up to 255 serial ports opened simultaneously (e.g. COM1 to COM255) and/or up to 255 connections simultaneously
  • Supports the MSComm compatible methods and properties. More...
  • FIFO Chip Support (e.g. UART 16550/16650/16750/16950)
  • Control lines DTR, RTS
  • Powerful flow control (RTS/CTS, DTR/DSR, XON/FOFF, etc.)
  • Any baud rates supported by the hardware e.g. up to 921600 Baud (921,6 Kbps)
  • List installed serial ports, availability status, name and type
  • Dial-up connections using Modem (Hayes compatible)
  • Dial-up connections using TAPI (Windows Telephony API)
  • Dial-up connections using USB Modem
  • Establish connections using GSM / GPRS Modem. More...
  • Modem-Sharing: Sharing a Modem connection with other applications is usually possible.
  • Supports USB to RS-232 / RS-485 adapters / converters
  • Using serial ports redirected through the Windows Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
  • SuperCom can use Virtual Serial Ports e.g. COMM ports routed to an Ethernet PortServer/CommServer.
  • PnP Serial Port devices. SuperCom reports the OnPlug event whenever a PnP serial port is attached to or removed.
  • Sharing Serial Ports with a third party library is usually possible.

 

A short summary of the DLL API can be found here.

 

Some SuperCom ActiveX - Properties 
The serial communication ActiveX, SuperCom ActiveX, zmodem, ymodem, xmodem, kermit, modbus, ascii

ComTypes

The ComTypes RS-232, RS-422, RS-485 and TAPI are included in the SuperCom Serial ActiveX used for serial communication. The ComTypes TCP/IP Server and TCP/IP Client are included in the SuperCom for TCP/IP for Windows and used for TCP/IP communication. The ComType ISDN is included in the SuperCom for ISDN for Windows . All ComTypes listed above are included in the SuperCom Suite and used for development of applications for serial communication, TCP/IP communication etc.
Please also see the chart of Software and Features and the available product range for more details.

Most wanted products for ActiveX control

#627, SuperCom Serial ActiveX
  -  32 Bit ActiveX control incl. runtime DLLs for serial communication (RS-232/422/485 and TAPI)
  -  Samples and Documentation
See also the available products and details.

#626400, SuperCom x64 Serial Library incl. ActiveX
  -  64 Bit ActiveX control incl. runtime DLLs for serial communication (RS-232/422/485 and TAPI)
  -  Samples and Documentation
See also 64 bit available products and details.

Compatibility

The SuperCom ActiveX can be used with any Windows ActiveX enabled development environment including C#, Visual C++, C++ Builder, Delphi incl. CodeGear, Embarcadero RAD Studio, FoxPro, LabVIEW, MS Office (Visual Basic for Applications, VBA, e.g. Excel, Access, Word), MS .NET, PowerBuilder, Visual Basic, Visual Basic .net, Windows Script Host (VBScript) etc.
Embed into HTML pages and use with Internet Explorer (event driven sample available).

64 Bit Ready (see codes 626400 & 626301) For real Windows 64 Bit development a 64-Bit Version (x64) also offered. See details.

Regular updates ensure compatibility with upcoming Windows versions.

Sample Applications

Complete sample applications written for C/C++, C#, C++ Builder, Delphi incl. CodeGear, Embarcadero RAD Studio, Internet Explorer, FoxPro, LabView, PowerBuilder, Visual C++, Visual Basic, VBA (e.g. Excel), Visual Basic .net, Windows Script Host (VBScript), etc. are included in full source code.

License Information

Executable Applications (e.g. "."EXE") developed using the SuperCom ActiveX can be distributed royalty free.

System requirements

Windows 10, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 95/98, Windows Me.

 

What developers say

Amazing, CPU usage dropped from 100% to 15% and it runs faster! Read more ...

 


A proven alternative to MSComm, PDQComm, SaxComm and other

One question we often get: "Is it only Visual Basic 6 that can use the SuperCom ActiveX to replace MSComm?". And the answer is: "You can use the SuperCom ActiveX to replace the MSComm control under any compiler or development environment you are using it".

Steps to replace MSComm with SuperCom ActiveX fast and safely

Replacing the MSComm32 control  

How to replace PDQComm and SaxComm control

Is it possible to replace PDQComm or SaxComm also ?
It's nearly the same procedure as with the MSComm. Some rarely used functions named differently in SuperCom or use a different number of parameters. Thus a small rework may be needed to complete. PDQComm or SaxComm may also include functions or protocols that may not be included in SuperCom ActiveX. Even if you don't use them a detail check helps to better estimate the amount of rework required.

Replacing the PDQComm or SaxComm control  

The manual also provides additional information.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about solving MSComm and related issues. More ...


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Updated on: 2023-11-21 12:58:38