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THE INTERNET
Transmission Control Protoco/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is the name given the set of communications standards that make possible the vast network of computers known as the Internet. With these standards one can use telnet to log into remote computers, transfer files from remote sites with file transfer protocol (FTP), and send electronic mail to remote computers. If a Macintosh computer is directly connected to the Internet, then the user probably runs communications programs like BYU/NCSA Telnet and TN3270, XferIt, or an electronic mail gateway to remote computers. These programs are general-purpose tools for remote access; they are not intended to provide access to specific information services. With HyperCard it is possible to create specialized information-gathering tools to access specialized information services.
REQUIREMENTS
The hardware and software required to implement TCP/IP communications from within HyperCard include a Macintosh with a direct connection to the Internet, any version of HyperCard, MacTCP and the XCMDs from abling the Macintosh to implement the TCP/IP protocols. It is available from the Apple Developers Association (APDA) (1-800-282-2732).
Finally, the HyperCard TCP Toolkit is a set of XCMDs that calls the routines within MacTCR XCMDs are compiled portions of programming code, usually written in the C or Pascal programming language, that can be added to HyperCard stacks, adding additional functionality to the Hyper Card HyperTalk language. The TCP Tool it is available from APDA, America Online, and a number of anonymous FTP sites.(1) The following descriptive text was taken from the introductory card of the HyperCard TCP Toolkit.
The HyperCard TCP Toolkit consists of a set of HyperTalk commands and functions which allow HyperCard stacks to establish TCP connections and send data across them. There is also a function for performing name-to-address translation.
A connection is established using the TCPActiveOpen function, which establishes a connection with the remote socket (a connection between computer processors allowing them to communicate in a fast, reliable manner) and returns a connection ID. This connection ID is used to specify which connection to send and receive data on for the TCPCharsAvailahle, TCPSend, TCPRecvChars, TCPRecvUpTo, and TCPRecvMsg commands and functions. The TCPState function returns the current state of the connection. To gracefully close a connection, the TCPClose command is called; the HyperTalk script should then wait for...