Technical information

INSTALLATION AND ADMINISTRATION GUIDE
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See also
Using XML-F
Software Development Kit (SDK)
The VSI Software Development Kit (SDK) provides Component Object Model (COM) classes and sample code that
can be used by software developers to integrate fax functionality into Windows applications. These applications can
be written using Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 or Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 and will run on supported Windows platforms.
Note
With VSI-FAX 5.0, API development has moved to C/C++. This change will not affect your current SDK
development. Java, Visual Basic, XML-F, C and C++ continue to be supported in version 5.1 and up.
The C\C++ Client API Reference is in c_api.pdf. in the \docs folder of the VSI-FAX CD-ROM.
Advantages
Experienced C++ and Visual Basic programmers can leverage existing knowledge to create fax integrations.
Disadvantages
Only works on supported Windows platforms. Unix/Linux users generally integrate via vfxSee vfx commands
or
xmlfSee xmlf commands
commands rather than at the API level.
Ways to create fax envelopes
C++ Add the fax automation classes to your C++ projects and use them to create custom fax controls and
Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs).
Visual
Basic
Add fax automation classes to your the Visual Basic projects and use them to create custom fax controls
and GUIs.
Print-
to-fax
After you have installed the VSI-FAX print driver using the InstallPrinter program, you can send faxes from
within any Windows application that supports normal printing.
VSI-FAX print driver only images the information a user wants to fax (via the File > Print...
command). To send a fax, destination information must be supplied. A sample Visual Basic application is
provided that receives the imaged file from the print driver and displays a fax form for entering the fax
destination information.
See also
VSI Software Development Kit (SDK)
lp spooler
This is essentially another kind of print-to-fax integration See Print-to-fax that uses a custom printer interface script
instead of a fax print driver.
Advantages
This technique works on most (but not all) Unix and Linux platforms.
Disadvantages
This technique only works on certain Unix and Linux platforms. You cannot use it on Windows platforms.
Ways to create fax envelopes
The most common method of lp faxing is to use the Unix lp command. Typically, the lp command accepts several
command line options that work well for sending a fax. In order for lp faxing to work correctly, two arguments must be
passed to the interface script: