🚀 go-pugleaf

A couple of weeks ago I posted an inquiry here seeking advice on
selecting a native OS/2 2.0 fax program. The requirements were that the
program permit faxing directly from documents that use ATM fonts and
that this feature be supported for both native OS/2 applications and
Win-OS/2 applications. Here is the promised summary of responses:

Almost all users identified "FaxWorks for OS/2" as the runaway winner.
This product used to be called "PMfax" and was distributed by The Keller
Group; it is now called "FaxWorks" and is distributed by SofNet. An
earlier version of the program was apparently also called BitFAX.
Confused yet? In any case, the necessary coordinates are:

	SofNet, Inc.
	380 Interstate North Parkway
	Suite 150
	Atlanta, GA 30339
	voice: 404-984-8088
	voice: 800-4-FAXWORKS
	fax:   404-984-9956

"PMfax" should not be confused with "Fax/PM", which is a different
product from a different company. The information in TINF about all
these companies is out of date and somewhat confused (as if it wasn't
confusing enough with the similarities in some names and changes in
others).

Endorsements for FaxWorks came from Timothy Sipples, Joel Seiferas,
Ronald S. Woan, Andy Yu, Venkat V. Rao, Christopher Fernandes, Jeff
Urlwin, Haines Brown, and Mike Teper.

There was one endorsement for Fax/PM from from Florian Damas, a French
user who pointed out that the French version has Minitel support.
Another user (whose name was not recoverable from the email--sorry)
noted that there is a one-page-only scaled-down version of Fax/PM
included as an applet in the 2.1 beta, but he said that 1) he found
this cumbersome and 2) the full product cost $250. He personally
recommended FaxWorks for OS/2 instead.

I ordered FaxWorks for OS/2 for $99 plus $10 shipping directly from
SofNet. It installed fairly smoothly and works as advertised. The
documentation is a little thin on how to handle multiple printers
within applications, but I was able to configure both DeScribe (native
OS/2) and AmiPro (within Win-OS/2) to fax directly. 

One (nonfatal) quirk: The installation routine left my ZyXEL U-1496E
modem in some odd state that caused it to misdial repeatedly, so that
every call (to any number) was answered by the telephone company
("We're sorry but we cannot complete your call as dialed ..."). Turning
the modem off and on cured this problem, which has not recurred.

All in all, I am very pleased with FaxWorks for OS/2 and recommend it to
other users. One caution: it supports _almost_ all modems, but call and
verify before you order. They have a constantly updated list of modems
they have tested.

Thanks for the replies,

David

--
Professor David J. Birnbaum         djbpitt+@pitt.edu [Internet]
The Royal York Apartments, #802     djbpitt@pittvms   [Bitnet]
3955 Bigelow Boulevard              voice: 1-412-687-4653
Pittsburgh, PA  15213  USA          fax:   1-412-624-9714