                      Delrina Communications Suite 2.1
                         Review by Wayne A. MacLeod

        Comm Suite 2.1 is Delrinas latest entry into the communications and
fax field.  It consists of two separate,  but complimentary programs,
WinComm Pro 1.1 and WinFax Pro 4.0. While many of its competitors have
chosen to integrate their communication and fax programs into one
application making them somewhat smaller and more closely integrated,
Delrina has opted to stay with two applications.  There are pros and cons to
both approaches, but I personally prefer Delrinas approach.
        We, CyberNews, previously reviewed the Delrina Suite in our very
first issue. Rather than try to "reword" the review, this review will
concentrate more on changes since the last review and personal impressions
        Delrina provides a Master Install Disk that allows you to customize
your installation.  You can install either WinComm Pro or WinFax pro or
both.  There are options for a full, custom or laptop installation.  The
laptop install allows you to install only the minimum files needed to run
the programs in order to conserve disk space. The custom installs allow the
choice of several options beyond the minimal install
        WinFax Pro offers the ability to install OCR, optical character
recognition, support which allows the conversion of fax image files into
text files that can be edited. There are included application macros that
provide for simplified faxing from some MS programs such as MS Word for
Windows and AmiPro. These macros add an option to the applications File
menus that allow direct faxing from these products. There is an option to
install support for several different Electronic Mail systems such as MS
Mail 3.0, cc:Mail 1.1/2.0, Novell MHS 1.5 and Lotus Notes 3.0. If you have a
supported Mail system installed, setup will auto-detect. Cover Your Fax
offers the ability to install more than 100 cover pages into categorized
groups.
        WinComm allows you to install pre-defined phone book entries that
provide scripts to connect with most major on-line systems such as
CompuServe and Delphi. You can also opt to install the files needed to run
WinComm in Host mode, basically a personal BBS. There are conversion
programs that allow you to use phone book entries from selected other
communication programs and save you a little input time. You can choose to
install the DCAPI (Delrina Corporation Application Programming Interface)
Manual and examples. There is the option to install Internet Messenger. IM
is an application geared to making use of Internet Email quick and simple.
It provides scripts that allow you to connect to and subscribe to various
providers of Internet Email connectivity throughout the country. You can
also use IM with your current Internet connection.
        I am extremely impressed with WinFax Pro 4.0. I had heard some
things about earlier versions that had caused me some concern, but from all
indications, Delrina has corrected these problems and produced a fine
program. On a personal level, I am quite happy that Delrina has chosen to
support the CAS standards for Intel Satisfaxtion modems while many of its
competitors have written it off as proprietary. My faxing experiences, both
send and receive were flawless. The enclosed cover pages are both functional
and fun. I need to delete some of the samples to conserve disk space, but am
having a difficult time doing so as they are all so good. Improvements added
to version 4.0 include the AdapTable( interface which allows you to
customize the look and feel of the program in many ways. There is support
for drag and drop faxing and user defined toolbars. A Quick cover page is
provided when you do not need one of the many graphical pre-defined covers
provided which allows you to use your g o and import text files into the
message area. Also added are on the fly file attachments, enhancements to
the fax viewer, spell checker for the cover pages and auto forwarding of
received faxes.
        WinFax offers several hardware/system dependent features. As I
previously stated, the Intel CAS standard is supported which allows for file
transfers and true background faxing. I love being able to receive faxes
without having to load WinFax. Fax-a-File(, another binary file transfer by
fax specification is supported for those with capable fax modems. Remote
retrieval of information by polling is supported from those services that
provide such and you can also poll your own system from a remote location to
retrieve faxes from your Receive log. ECM, Error Correction Mode, is
supported for sends and receives when both ends are capable of ECM. Networks
with supported Mail Systems can use WinFax to send and receive mail and tie
their fax and mail together.
        WinComm is a very capable Windows communication program with all the
features and abilities one would expect. I personally did not care for the
look and feel of WinComm, but could not find any functional difficulties.
The program, like WinFax Pro, is highly customizable so I am not sure what
it is about the look and feel that I do not like, it is just one of those
things and not a reflection on the program itself. It goes out of its way to
offer many, many features and possibilities and that may be the problem.
There are so many features that I had some difficulty finding the things
that I wanted to set up the way I am used to running my comm programs.
        Improvements and additions to version 1.1 include integration with
the Internet Messenger program previously described. A GIF viewer that
allows you to view GIF files as they are downloaded or that reside on your
system. Support for the RPI, Rockwell Protocol Interface, has been added.
The implementation of RPI technology into some modems is controversial and
generally considered in a negative light, but it is nice to see a major
player in the communications arena add support for those users who have such
a modem. Individual session windows can have the number of rows and columns
adjusted to personal preference and custom colors can be selected. Queuing
of multiple numbers for a session is allowed providing the convenience of
having the program dial a secondary number automatically if the primary
number is busy. Many of the events in WinComm can now have sounds associated
with them allowing you audible notification of connections, file transfer
completions and such. Support for a il systems. The memory requirements for
running WinComm have been reduced allowing for more efficient multi-tasking.
        Delrinas CommSuite 2.1 is a very nice package, I love WinFax Pro and
find WinComm as good as the competition and would have no problem
recommending the package to anyone looking for a full featured package.
        System requirements vary depending upon the install option selected
as far as disk space and memory requirements. You will need a Windows 3.1
compatible system running in enhanced mode, at least 4 MB of memory with 8
MB recommended, and a Win 3.1 supported graphics adapter. A modem is needed
and it must have Class I, Class II, CAS, Worldport or SendFax capability to
use WinFax. Pro install both programs, you will need from 11 MB to 21 MB of
HD space.

                                  DELRINA
                              6830 Via Del Oro
                                 Suite 240
                          San Jose, CA 95119-9940
                               (408) 363-2345

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