                        SentinelPro Release P-22.0
                             README.TXT File

                  Copyright (c) 1991-95 Rainbow Technologies
                              All Rights Reserved


------------------
USING THE EVAL KIT
------------------

  Please take some time and read the "DEVELOPERS GUIDE" that came with the
  evaluation kit. If you did not receive one, please contact us immediately.

  Read the rest of this file, it contains a description of the files on this
  diskette and documentation of the latest changes and additions.

  To install the SentinelPro software, see INSTALL.TXT on disk 1 of this
  release. Use the PROEVAL.EXE program located in the \TOOLS directory
  after the install has been performed to become familiar with query strings,
  command strings and responses.

  Build a simple program in your application language that provides query
  strings to the driver and displays the results. For many languages, such
  an "EVAL" program is already present. This will show that the SentinelPro
  and our driver code works properly with your development language.

  Please note that there may be varying levels of language support. Newer
  versions of a particular compiler may require a modification to our
  interface in order to successfully communicate with the SentinelPro.

  Devise a strategy for building your "Software Lock" into your application.
  The SentinelPro provides a versatile and secure key for your use. People
  trying to break your application will attack your software lock - not our
  hardware key. (See the Developers Guide.)

  Use your PROEVAL program as an example to implement and test your strategy
  in your application. Be aware that when you order SentinelPros, we will
  generate an algorithm for your exclusive use. This means that the response
  numbers will be different from the ones you get with the evaluation
  SentinelPro. You will need to use your evaluation program to find out what
  the new response will be.


----------------------
DISTRIBUTION DISKETTES
----------------------
  The file INSTALL.TXT on disk 1 of this release describes the contents of
  the release disks.

------------------------
LATEST APPLICATION NOTES
------------------------

  Serial Sentinel
  ---------------
  Starting with release P-22.0 the Serial Sentinel is no longer supported.

  SentinelPro
  -----------
  The SentinelPro is a direct replacement for all models of the Software
  Sentinel. SentinelPro 4000-B units are now the standard for new users.

  The SentinelPro eliminates most compatibility problems that were present
  with earlier Software Sentinel models.

  If you are using previous versions of the Software Sentinel, you should
  have received a set of conversion guidelines with the product
  announcement. If you have any questions, please call Rainbow Tech Support.

  Interrupts
  ----------
  The SentinelPro driver blocks the ACK interrupt on the Printer Adapter
  board. Even though the new SentinelPro models using the BUSY line do not
  cause the /ACK line to change, interrupts are disabled to prevent
  background spoolers from "clobbering" a query.

  The driver disables interrupts during a query so that interrupt driven
  print spoolers will not crash the query. If your application has some
  critical interrupt code, you have two main choices:

  1. Arrange your queries to the SentinelPro in such a way that it happens
     during non-critical times.

  2. Use short query strings (5 or 6 characters) to minimize the amount of
     time interrupts are disabled.

  Responses when the SentinePro is not present
  --------------------------------------------
  In most cases, you will get a 0 or -1 if a SentinelPro is not connected;
  however, there may be conditions where you get some other value. This can
  be affected by other peripherals on that port.

  Many manufacturers of printer adapters are going to CMOS/ASIC logic, which
  behaves differently than TTL logic when there is nothing connected to the
  printer port, or when a powered-off printer is attached.

  The only way to be sure that a SentinelPro is attached is to send a query
  string and test for the correct result.

  Doing retries
  -------------
  If you get an incorrect response to a query, it is important to try the
  query again. The number of retries to perform is up to you.


----------------------------------
Revision History for DOS/Win/WinNT
----------------------------------
P-22.0  22May95


Added  : Rainbow's System Driver support for applications running under Win3x,
         OS/2 and Windows NT.
     
       : New APIs for DOS/Win3x interfaces
          "03" Get Status (low byte)
          "04" Get Extended status (HI & LOW bytes)
          "05" Get the driver revision and type (Rev in high byte and
               DrvrType in low byte of AX
          "08" Get the hardware type
          "A0" Driver command to use Auto hardware configuration.
          "A1" Driver command to use IBM hardware specific code.
          "A2" Driver command to use NEC hardware specific code.
          "A3" Driver command to use FMR hardware specific code.

       : Hardware platform support:
           NEC
           Fujitsu (FMR)
           MIPS
           DEC Alpha
     
       : Commands for NEC: 55, and 56.

       : NEC 140h port support.
     
       : Software installation procedures for interfaces and System Driverss.

       : Run-time determination of hardware type:  IBM/IBM compatible, NEC, FMR.

       : Run-time determination of OS:  DOS, Win3x, WinNT, and OS/2.

       : Run-time configuration and/or  determination of driver type.

       : Auto-timing for NEC and FMR.

       : New evaluation program that is more user friendly.


Fixes  : Resolved DMA issues under Windows.

       : Refined Auto-timing.

       : Resolved name conflict with documentation.  Changed .doc files to .txt.

       : Resolved issues with unsupported parallel ports:
           AT-Compatible
           IBM Type 1
           IBM Type 2  (Japanese systems)
           IBM Type 3
           NEC Full-Centronics  (mini-Centronics connector)
           NEC 98-Compatible  (14-pin-style)
           FMR
     
       : Resolved compatibility with NEC/FMR systems, NEC Pre-Installed
         Windows 3.1, NEC NT.
     
       : Resolved auto-timing issues on NEC and FMR.
     
       : Fixed the DOS/WIN C interfaces short response from having its return
         value from being inverted.

       : Resolved problem with C/C++ interfaces not having extern "C" in
         header file definition.


-------------
KNOWN PROBLEM
-------------

   1) Under OS/2, applications can not find the System Driver in some cases.
      In some cases the problem was only exhibited if the current working
      directory was a network volume.  In other cases the problem was more
      sporadic and if the environment were to be configured to be "FAST
      LOAD" or changed to run in "STANDARD MODE" the problem would go away.
      In the last scenario,  either of these changes enabled the driver to
      be found and it continued to be found even if the setting was changed
      back.

---------------
PROBLEM REPORTS
---------------
  If you find any problems, please report them to:

    Rainbow Technologies, Inc.
    9292 Jeronimo Rd.
    Irvine, CA 92718, USA
    Attn: Tech Support

    Voice (714) 454-2100
    FAX   (714) 454-8557

----------------
LANGUAGE SUPPORT
----------------
  The following information describes the interfaces and tools provided with
  this release:

  TOOLS INCLUDED
  --------------
  PROEVAL.EXE - Evaluation and demonstration program. Several versions of
                this program exist in the various subdirectories under \TOOLS
                after the install has been performed. Each version supports a
                different environment: DOS, Windows or Windows NT.


  INTERFACES INCLUDED
  -------------------

  ASM, BORLAND TURBO 3.1, DOS
  ASM, MICROSOFT MACRO 6.1, DOS
  AUTOLISP, AUTOCAD R12, DOS, PHARLAP 386|DOS EXTENDER 4.0, METAWARE HIGH C 3.1
  AUTOLISP, AUTOCAD R12, WINDOWS 3.1, WATCOM C 10.0a
  AUTOLISP, AUTOCAD Release 13, Windows NT, 32-bit EXECUTABLE
  BASIC, MICROSOFT PROFESSIONAL 7.1, DOS
  BASIC, MICROSOFT QUICK 4.5, DOS
  BASIC, MICROSOFT VISUAL 1.0, DOS
  BASIC, MICROSOFT VISUAL 3.0, WINDOWS 3.1, DLL
  C, BORLAND 3.1, DOS, ERGO DPM16 DPMI 1.002
  C, BORLAND 3.1, DOS, PHARLAP 286|DOS EXTENDER 3.0
  C, BORLAND 3.1, DOS, RATIONAL DOS/16M 4.2
  C, BORLAND 4.02, DOS, BORLAND POWERPACK, 32 BIT
  C, BORLAND 4.02, DOS, OWN DOS EXTENDER, 16 BIT
  C, BORLAND 4.5, DOS
  C, BORLAND 4.5, WINDOWS 3.1, DLL
  C, BORLAND 4.5, WINDOWS 3.1, LINKABLE
  C, BORLAND TURBO 2.0, DOS
  C, COMPUTER INNOVATIONS C86, DOS
  C, METAWARE HIGH 1.7, DOS, ERGO OS/386 2.0.05
  C, METAWARE HIGH 1.7, DOS, PHARLAP 386|DOS EXTENDER 2.2d, INTERGRAPH MICROSTATION 4.0 & BENTLEY MDL C 4.0
  C, METAWARE HIGH 3.21, DOS, PHARLAP TNT|DOS EXTENDER 7.0
  C, MICROSOFT 6.00A, DOS
  C, MICROSOFT 6.00A, DOS, ERGO OS/286 2.1.05
  C, MICROSOFT 6.00A, DOS, PHARLAP 286|DOS EXTENDER 2.0
  C, MICROSOFT 6.00A, DOS, RATIONAL DOS/16M 4.20
  C, Microsoft 6.00a, OS/2, 16-bit DLL
  C, Microsoft 6.00a, OS/2, 16-bit LINKABLE
  C, MICROSOFT 6.00A, WINDOWS 3.1, DLL
  C, MICROSOFT 6.00A, WINDOWS 3.1, LINKABLE
  C, MICROSOFT VISUAL 1.0, DOS
  C, MICROSOFT VISUAL 1.5, WINDOWS 3.1, DLL
  C, MICROSOFT VISUAL 1.5, WINDOWS 3.1, LINKABLE
  C, SYMANTEC ZORTECH 3.0, DOS, PHARLAP 386|DOS EXTENDER 4.0
  C, WATCOM 10.0, DOS, ERGO OS/386 2.0.05
  C, WATCOM 10.0, DOS, PHARLAP TNT DOS EXTENDER 7.0
  C, WATCOM 10.0, DOS, RATIONAL DOS4GW 1.97
  C, WATCOM 10.0, WINDOWS 3.1, LINKABLE
  C/C++, Borland 1.0 and 1.5, OS/2, 32-bit DLL
  C/C++, Borland 1.0 and 1.5, OS/2, 32-bit LINKABLE
  C/C++, Borland 4.0 and 4.5, Windows NT, 32-bit DLL
  C/C++, Borland 4.0 and 4.5, Windows NT, 32-bit LINKABLE
  C/C++, BORLAND TURBO 1.0, DOS
  C/C++, IBM Cset/2 2.0, OS/2, 32-bit DLL
  C/C++, IBM Cset/2 2.0, OS/2, 32-bit LINKABLE
  C/C++, Microsoft Visual 1.5 and 2.0, Windows NT, 32-bit DLL
  C/C++, Microsoft Visual 1.5 and 2.0, Windows NT, 32-bit LINKABLE
  C/C++, Watcom  9.5 and 10.0a, Windows NT, 32-bit DLL
  C/C++, Watcom  9.5 and 10.0a, Windows NT, 32-bit LINKABLE
  C/C++, Watcom 10.0a, OS/2, 32-bit DLL
  C/C++, Watcom 10.0a, OS/2, 32-bit LINKABLE
  COBOL, MBP VISUAL 3.02 (XO), DOS
  COBOL, Micro Focus 3.1, OS/2, 16-bit DLL
  COBOL, Micro Focus 3.1, OS/2, 16-bit LINKABLE
  COBOL, REALIA x.x, DOS, (NOT TESTED)
  COBOL, RYAN-MCFARLAND -85 2.0, DOS
  DB, BORLAND PARADOX FOR WINDOWS 4.5, WINDOWS 3.1, DLL
  DB, CLARION DATABASE DEVELOPER 3.009, Clarion DOS Extender.
  DB, CLIPPER 5.2, DOS
  DB, CLIPPER 5.2, DOS, BLINKER 3.0
  DB, CLIPPER 5.2, DOS, EXOSPACE 1.0A
  DB, CLIPPER SUMMER OF 87, DOS
  DB, FOXPRO 2.5, DOS
  DB, FOXPRO 2.5, DOS, EXTENDED VERSION
  DB, FOXPRO 2.5, WINDOWS 3.1, BIN
  DB, OMNIS7 1.2, WINDOWS 3.1, DLL
  FORTRAN, LAHEY 90 1.0, DOS, OWN DOS EXTENDER
  FORTRAN, LAHEY LEM/16 1.20, DOS, ERGO OS/286 2.0.05
  FORTRAN, LAHEY LEM/16 1.20, DOS, ERGO OS/386 2.1.05
  FORTRAN, LAHEY LEM/32 4.02, DOS, ERGO OS/386 2.1.05
  FORTRAN, MICROSOFT 5.1, DOS
  FORTRAN, Microsoft 5.1, OS/2, 16-bit DLL
  FORTRAN, Microsoft 5.1, OS/2, 16-bit LINKABLE
  FORTRAN, MICROSOFT 5.1, WINDOWS 3.1, LINKABLE
  FORTRAN, MICROSOFT POWERSTATION 1.0, DOS, OWN DOS EXTENDER
  FORTRAN, MICROWAY NDP 4.4.0, DOS, PHARLAP 386|DOS EXTENDER 4.0
  PASCAL, BORLAND 7.0, DOS
  PASCAL, BORLAND 7.0, DOS, OWN DOS EXTENDER
  PASCAL, BORLAND 7.0, WINDOWS 3.1, DLL
  PASCAL, BORLAND 7.0, WINDOWS 3.1, LINKABLE
  PASCAL, BORLAND DELPHI 1.0, WINDOWS 3.1, LINKABLE
  PASCAL, BORLAND TURBO FOR WIDNOWS 1.0, WINDOWS 3.1, DLL
  PASCAL, BORLAND TURBO FOR WIDNOWS 1.0, WINDOWS 3.1, LINKABLE
