>>I understand that ProComm does not work on most XP computers and is being discontinued by Symantec. I don't think PC Anywhere has XModem protocol. We use commtools. At least you don't have to handle the com port or xmodem stuff in your program. It requires writing a fox application around the control. Your fox program becomes the script.<
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>Ken,
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>By chance are you uploading electronic claims to WebMD? That is what we are doing. Previously, we were using an older program with Kermit protocol, but it no longer runs on the newer machines.
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>With CommTools, what kind of a learning curve is there with it? We are on a relatively short timeframe. Can you give me a little bit of insight about the product?
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>Thanks for the input.
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>Mike
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>PS. Ed Raugh... thank you for your input too, at this point I'm leaning towards the pcAnywhere solution, but ComTools sounds intrigueing.
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Yes, we transmit to all major clearinghouses and all Medicare contractors as well as many private payers like Blue Cross of California.
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At first glance, commtools is totally unlike scripting. It is just a control that does some low-level work for you, like a calendar or other ActiveX. You do all the work building a program around it. If you already have procomm scripts for many payers like we do (over 100) then you can build sub-programs to call that will duplicate the work of your procomm scripts. We make a separate, custom sub-program for each receiver. after the first 4 or 5, it is not so difficult to make more. Of course, you are using Fox so you have infinitely more power than generic scripting. We found the learning curve not so bad since we had experience with similar products in the early fox-dos days. It also has the benefit that your customer does not have to purchase procomm or any other third-party product.

I guess the answer to your question about learning curve is totally dependent on the programmer's experience with modem communication. It is different from database and UI programming.

Have you had any problems with WebMD's new phone number?