Hi all .... I've decided to bite the bullet and learn how to do API calls. I have a very old FPDOS 2.0 application that accesses a COM port to dial a modem. I've never had to do anything really fancy with it, other than dialing the modem and processing the hand-shaking (modem return codes, etc). Once that was done, I shelled out to another proprietary (DOS again) utility that did all the rest of the communications between the PC and a cash register that was connected to the remote modem.

Well, I want to bring this application up to date and convert it to VFP 6.0. In addition to the original basically one-way modem communication to a cash register, I also am finding a need to do two-way communication between the calling PC and a remote PC (newer POS hardware is now PC-based rather than a dedicated piece of hardware), necessitating an "answering module" on the remote PC end to answer the modem and send the appropriate files. One extra layer of complexity.

Anyway, what I'm looking for in the way of answers is just someone to point me in the right direction as to where I might start, what I need to learn, etc. I do not want to use a third-party comm tool (as I'm sure many of you will suggest), I want to roll my own.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!!!

TIA,
Bonnie