Software Applications, Components and Libraries

The SocketTools Secure Visual Edition is a collection of ActiveX controls that supports secure data connections over the Internet or a local network. It includes client interfaces for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)-compliant versions of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS), File Transfer Protocol (FTPS), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTPS) and other popular application protocols PLUS all the standard Visual Edition components. Almost all details of the standard SSL protocol are hidden within the controls, enabling developers to produce secure client applications with only small additional considerations beyond those needed for non-secure versions of those same applications.

The ActiveX (OCX) controls can be used with a wide variety of programming languages such as Visual Basic, Visual C++ and C#. The primary advantages to the Secure Visual Edition are a low learning curve and ease of implementation. With full support for Windows Vista, as well as Windows Server 2003, Windows XP and Windows 2000, compatibility with virtually every Windows development tool, illustrative example code and a complete User’s Guide and Technical Reference in HTML Help format, the Secure Visual Edition offers everything the corporate developer needs to build professional applications for the Internet and intranet. All Catalyst products are sold run-time and royalty-free and include a 30-day money back guarantee.

The SocketTools Secure Visual Edition is a collection of controls that supports secure data connections over the Internet or a local network. It includes client interfaces for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)-compliant versions of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS), File Transfer Protocol (FTPS), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTPS) and other popular application protocols PLUS all the standard Visual Edition components. Almost all details of the standard SSL protocol are hidden within the controls, enabling developers to produce secure client applications with only small additional considerations beyond those needed for non-secure versions of those same applications. All versions of Visual Basic from 5.0 and later are supported, and the ActiveX controls can be used with any programming language that supports COM and the ActiveX control specification.

A total of eighteen controls provide client interfaces for the major application protocols, including secure versions of six protocols:

File Transfer Protocol (FTP/FTPS), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (ESMTP/SMTPS), Domain Name Service (DNS), Secure Telnet (TELNETS), Finger Protocol, Gopher Protocol, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS), Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP),  Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME), Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP/NNTPS), Post Office Protocol (POP3/POP3S), Remote Command Execution (RCMD), Time Protocol, Whois and Windows Sockets.

All of the controls share many common attributes. The network controls support both synchronous (blocking) and asynchronous modes of operation, and also include the ability to log the Windows Sockets function calls for debugging purposes. All of the controls are thread-safe and can be used in multithreaded containers, such as Internet Explorer. With the exception of the terminal emulation control, they can also be used as simple Automation objects, without requiring that they be placed on a form or inside another container.

With full support for Windows Vista, as well as Windows Server 2003, Windows XP and Windows 2000, compatibility with virtually every Windows development tool, illustrative example code and a complete User’s Guide and Technical Reference in HTML Help format, the Secure Visual Edition offers everything the corporate developer needs to build professional applications for the Internet and intranet. All Catalyst products are sold run-time and royalty-free and include a 30-day money back guarantee.