The following sample executable programs, written as exercisers for the toolkit are available for downloading from here. The programs require only minimal hardware - an 8086 compatible PC with a single floppy drive and 128K of memory is quite sufficient. They are distributed with no warranty as an advertisement for the toolkit, and can be used under normal 30-day trial shareware terms. If you find these programs useful, or require access to the source code to the fully working fax functions that they use, you must register and obtain a license. Full details on how to do this can be found on the Fax Toolkit page.
You can download all the programs below as a single archive FAXKIT.ZIP.
Usage : ENCODE [textile] [imagefile] [-options]
This program turns an ordinary text file into a fax file stored in TIFF class F format. Any size file is supported. The default is for normal resolution 1-D T.4 format, but 2-D T.4 and T.6 formats are also supported. Type ENCODE -h to see all the available options.
Usage : QENCODE [textile] [imagefile]
This program is an alternative quicker fax encoder which only generates 1-D normal resolution TIFF class F files. Any size file is supported. Since it uses a half- width font and doubles up on run lengths, it is at least 15% faster than the previous version, and can be up to 900% faster on text with lots of white space. This is because it only encodes those portions of lines containing text and doesn't try to generate a bit map of each line. However, this technique cannot generate 2-D or T.6 files.
Usage : FAX [-options]
This is the send and receive fax software itself. It will handle fax sending and receiving on either class 1, class 2 or class 2.0 fax modems. It accepts any sort of image transmission (1-D 2-D or T.6) and sends whatever sort of image it finds in a TIFF class F file. A diagnostic display of the fax modem dialogue with progress reports is optionally displayed on the screen. This program can be run either interactively or via a set of simple command line switches. Type FAX -h to see all the available options.
Usage : SENDFAX [-options]
This is an example of how the different parts of the toolkit can be combined into one program. It uses the quick encoding routines from QENCODE.EXE together with the sending routines from FAX.EXE to create a simple program that takes any plain ASCII text file and sends it directly as a fax, complete with a standard header showing the time and the source of the transmission. This program can be run either interactively or via a set of simple command line switches, or else via a simple SENDFAX.CFG configuration file. (The source code to this program is only available to commercial users of the toolkit). Type SENDFAX -h to see all the available options.
Usage : DECODE [imagefile]
This program takes the TIFF class F image from a fax file and outputs it to screen or printer. An option to dump a fax to the industry standard uncompressed TIFF graphics format is also included. All encoding methods (T.4 1-D, T.4 2-D and T6) are supported in both normal and fine resolutions. PC screens supported include CGA, EGA and VGA, and printers include Hewlett-Packard Lasers and Inkjets at 100 x 100 or 300 x 300 resolution, Canon CaPSL printers such as laserbeams, both 9-pin and 24-pin Epson compatible dot-matrix and inkjet printers, and also 48-nozzle Canon Bubblejets.
The programs here were last updated on 11th May 1997