Evaluation Information on IP*Works!

Features of IP*Works! VB Edition
	16 bit VBXs, 16 bit OCXs, and 32 bit OCXs are included in the package. You can write your code once and then deploy your application in both 16 bit and 32 bit platforms. Through the set of the controls, you can access almost all of the Winsock features. At the same time, the controls are very easy to use, with a uniform and intuitive design.
		Fast, robust, and reliable, the controls consume very little resources. They charge no runtime fees, and no royalties of any kind. Only one license for the developer. The controls are fully documented, with easy to use, fully indexed help files, and printed manuals.
	All the controls use asynchronous sockets. This makes for very efficient Winsock applications. The controls offer easy to use implementation of almost all the popular Internet protocols, and the range of features they cover, means that you can build professional Internet/Intranet applications with little or no effort.
The two major components
		FTP Control. The FTP control can be used to transfer files to and from FTP servers using the FTP Protocol. The FTP control implements a standard FTP client as specified in RFC 959 and RFC 1579. The first step in using the control is specifying the RemoteHost, User and Password. The file to upload to or download from is given by the RemoteFile property. The file to download to or upload from is specified by LocalFile. The current path in the server is specified by the RemotePath property. The Passive property is especially useful if the client is behind a firewall which inhibits incoming connections to higher ports. The control operates by setting appropriate values to the Action property. If LocalFile is set to something other than an empty string, then files are received in LocalFile, otherwise the data is received through the Transfer event. StartTransfer and EndTransfer are fired at the beginning and end of transmission. The PITrail event traces the interaction between the client and the server (the FTP Protocol Interface connection). Directory listings are received through the DirList event.
	HTTP Control The HTTP control can be used to retrieve documents from the World Wide Web The HTTP control implements a standard HTTP Version 1.0 client through a simple plug-and-play interface. The control contains a number of properties that map directly to HTTP request headers. Files are received through events: Transfer for contents, and Header for HTTP headers. The StartTransfer and EndTransfer events are fired at the beginning and end of transmission. The URL property specifies the document to receive. To receive the document set the Action property to 'Get'. Data can be POST-ed to the HTTP server by assigning it to the PostData property and then setting the Action property to 'Post'. The HTTP control supports the HTTP Basic authentication scheme through the User and Password properties. Other authentication schemes can be implemented by using the Authorization property.
IP*Works! List of controls \| click here \|
Evaluation Comments
	Advantages of FTP Control	Disadvantages of FTP Control
	*IPWorks! FTP Client** Nice user interface (pleasant and simple). Has a status bar to tell user on connection. Allow user to enter FTP server, user name and password. Can access both local and remote servers to retrieve/send files. Has quite similar features as the windows WS_FTP. Allows users to Logon and Logoff with different command buttons. User just have to click on the directory's name and then click the change directory button to access that particular directory.	*IPWorks! FTP Client** Cannot access to local dirve only remote drive available. Not able to upload or download files to specific directory or server. Not able to logon to FTP sites with annonymous ids. On overall, it's not workable.
	*IPWorks! FTP Server** Again, it has nice user interface. Allows user to enter user name and password which can be saved or deleted away.	*IPWorks! FTP Server** Password is visible to user and this might be dangerous. Could not connect to any server although it has a command button to connect. Cannot access to any directories in the local home directory when provided for. This program serves no purpose at all.
	Advantages of HTTP Control	Disadvantages of HTTP Control
	*IPWorks! HTTP Control** Nice interface with plain colors.	*IPWorks! HTTP Control** Not workable due to Winsockloaded compilation error.
	Overall Comments: The IP*Works! Visual Basic Edition has very nice user interface and if not due to compilation error and some minor problems, this can be the best tool that I have tried and would have chosen it rather than Crescent Internet ToolPak. I might make use of some functions from here as a guide for a better user interface as well as reference for certain funtions.