Catalyst Development

The SocketTools 6.0 .NET Edition introduced the new InternetServer class that was designed to simplify the implementation of a TCP/IP server application. With only a few lines of code, you can create the framework for a multi-threaded server that is completely event driven. You only need to create event handlers and then write your server code to respond to those network events. Continue Reading »

SocketTools 6.0 introduced some new functionality as part of the existing file transfer API and components that enables applications to verify that the contents of a file on the local system are the same as a file on the server. This can be used to either ensure that a file was uploaded correctly, or to check whether or not a file should be downloaded. For example, an application could check to see if the contents of a local file were the same as a remote file the user has requested to download, and if they match, the application knows it’s not necessary to download the file again. Continue Reading »

One of the new features in SocketTools 6.0 is the Message Store API which is designed to make it simple to store and manage email messages on the local system. For developers who use the POP3, IMAP4 and NNTP components to retrieve messages, the storage API enables those messages to be easily stored in a single file, rather than storing them individually in separate text files. The actual message store format is similar to the standard UNIX mbox format, and the API can actually be used to open mailboxes that were created on a UNIX or Linux system. Continue Reading »

We are pleased to announce that SocketTools 6.0 has been released. This new version includes several new components, including a new SSH component for secure interactive terminal sessions and remote command execution, integrated support for secure file transfers using SFTP and a new Internet Server component that allows you to build a customized, scalable, multi-threaded server with only a few lines of code. The SocketTools 6.0 components are source compatible with version 4.0 and 5.0 and support side-by-side deployment, simplifying the upgrade process so that you can spend your time improving your software, not rewriting it. Continue Reading »

SocketTools 6.0 will introduce a new component and API framework that is designed to simplify the process of creating TCP/IP server applications. In the Library Edition, this will be included as extension of the existing SocketWrench API, with additional functions designed to create an instance of the server and manage the client session. In the .NET Edition and Visual Edition, it will be included as a new component that has an interface that is very similar to the current SocketWrench component. Continue Reading »

One of the significant new features in SocketTools 6.0 will be support for the Secure Shell protocol, also known as SSH. As the name implies, this protocol provides a secure, encrypted connection between the local host and a remote computer, ensuring that third-parties cannot decipher any intercepted network traffic. Originally SSH was used primarily on UNIX based systems as a secure alternative to the insecure TELNET protocol, in which private information such as passwords would be sent as plain text over the network. SSH provides a high level of data integrity and confidentiality over insecure and public networks (e.g.: the Internet) and is widely supported a broad range of operating system platforms. The protocol itself is defined by a set of open standards, with RFC 4251 outlining the basic structure of the protocol, and other standards documents covering the different subsystems. Continue Reading »

We’ve reached another milestone with the development of SocketTools 6.0, and are getting ready to make it available for beta testing. To participate in the beta test, we have a form that you’ll need to complete that provides us with some basic company information, along with a signed non-disclosure agreement. We’ll be using our forums to provide access to the software, as well as provide a means for developers to offer feedback, submit bug reports and request additional features. If you’re interested in participating in the test, please make sure that you register on our forums using your full name and the same email address that you use when submitting the request to join the beta test. Continue Reading »

Microsoft released Windows Server 2008 to manufacturing on February 4th and is available to volume licensees and MSDN subscribers. The operating system will be officially released on February 27th as part of a larger product launch that also includes Visual Studio 2008 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008. Additional information about Windows Server 2008 is available on the Microsoft TechNet site.

SocketTools developers who are currently using version 5.0 should download the free Service Pack 3 update that includes support for Windows Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008. For those developers who are using older versions of SocketTools, we recommend upgrading to the current version to ensure compatibility with the latest Windows operating systems and programming tools. Customers who have purchased the SocketTools Subscription can download the latest version using the download link provided when they purchased the subscription. More information about SocketTools 5.0 is available on our website at www.catalyst.com.

For developers who are using still Visual Basic 6.0, the product is reaching the end of it’s extended support on April 8th, 2008 as it transitions into the non-supported phase of its lifecycle. This includes the Standard, Professional and Enterprise editions of Visual Basic 6.0, as well as those versions that were included as part of Visual Studio 6.0. Microsoft will no longer release service packs, hotfixes, security updates or provide incident support. However, Microsoft will continue to support the Visual Basic 6.0 runtime on Windows XP and Windows Vista as outlined in this support statement.

Likewise, we will continue to support the SocketTools ActiveX controls (as well as our other products) for Visual Basic 6.0 on Windows 2000, Windows XP and Vista. Although Microsoft’s support for the classic Visual Basic development environment is coming to an end, it will not impact developers insofar as SocketTools is concerned. This is the same policy that we have followed when Microsoft ended support for Visual C++ 6.0 in September 2005 and we have continued to support our Library Edition with that version of the compiler. It is recommended that you download Service Pack 6 for Visual Studio 6.0, which you can obtain from the Microsoft Download Center.

We understand that many companies and end-users continue to depend on applications created using Visual Basic 6.0. We will continue updating and improving the ActiveX controls in our products, and will continue to support development tools using ActiveX/COM. Please note that if you are using an earlier version of SocketTools, we recommend that you upgrade to the current version and continue to receive technical support and updates for the product. This is particularly true for those developers who are using the MFC-based ActiveX controls in SocketTools 3.6 or earlier versions. The current version of the ATL-based ActiveX controls offer superior performance, stability and improved features that can extend the life of legacy applications written in Visual Basic 6.0, helping to ensure that your software will continue to work correctly on the Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 platforms.

Technical support for version 4.5 of all SocketTools Editions, all SocketWrench Editions, the File Transfer and Internet Mail products officially ended on December 31, 2007. It is recommended that those developers who are currently using version 4.5 download the last available build. Links to download the product files can be found in Knowledge Base article 100269. There will be no further updates or hotfixes published for this version of the product.

If you are using version 4.0, you can upgrade to version 4.5 at no charge. Simply download the current version of your product and use your 4.0 serial number to install the software. Version 4.5 is completely backwards compatible with version 4.0 and requires no code changes. If you have any questions, feel free to post in the technical support forum section appropriate for your product.