XLink/Win 
XLink/Win XLink/Win is a Windows program which can back up data from Casio and Sharp electronic organizers onto your PC, and lets you view and edit your data on the PC and exchange data easily with other programs.
You can download the latest trial version of XLink/Win from this web site.
The main functions of XLink/Win are communications and data managment. The program features:
XLink/Win provides extensive information and dynamic displays while communicating with your organizer to let you know exactly what's going on. It also has excellent error detection, error logging, diagnostic capabilities, and detailed debugging Help so that you can quickly identify and solve any communications problems.
XLink/Win is designed to be an "open" program - it uses standard database formats and supports all standard methods of exchanging data between programs. It provides special import and export functions to make it easier to translate organizer data into different formats. This lets you use exchange your organizer data easily with the familiar programs you already use: personal information managers, databases, spreadsheets, word processors etc.. Many advanced functions such as sorting, printing, or displaying in different calendar formats are most easily accomplished by using the functions you already know in programs such as Excel, Word, or Outlook.
XLink/Win is highly configurable. You can change many elements of the program to suit your own preferences, including the appearance and contents of the toolbar, the field names and free fields of data types, character sets, table columns, form layouts, database formats and links etc.
XLink/Win has some basic data management functions, but it is not intended to be a complete Personal Information Manager (PIM) such as Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Organizer. It does not have the extensive calendar and address book functions of the PIM programs. Its primary purpose is to exchange data between your handheld electronic organizer and other PC programs such as the PIM you normally prefer to use. XLink/Win is also not intended to be a full database program like Access or spreadsheet program like Excel or a word processor like Word, although it can store and retrieve data in an Access database and it can cut and paste data between its own tables and an Excel spreadsheet or a Word document. You will find that XLink/Win works best when you use its ability to easily transfer organizer data to and from these other programs which provide more specialized functions.
You can download the shareware version of XLink/Win from this site (Download Page). If you want to keep it after you have tried it, all you need to do is Register. The online price is $23. See Register for more details.
XLink/Win supports all Casio SF, CSF, and NX digital diary models, plus a few other oddities like the IP-800 and C-300. It supports everything from the earliest 1980s models with a serial port to the latest models released by Casio this year. It also supports the equivalent Radio Shack models supplied by Casio. XLink/Win does not support the Casio PV or BN models, or the Cassiopeia WinCE PDA models, or the SF-4990/6990/7990 models.
XLink/Win supports many current and past Sharp YO, ZQ, and EL electronic organizer models, including the Wizard OZ (ZQ) 500/600/700 series models and the TM-20. However, it does not support older Sharp IQ models, or the Zaurus models. It does not support the YO/ZQ-515/520/540 models. It does not support the P20 or OZ/ZQ-290/590 Mark II models. See Sharp Compatibility for more information on the model number variations and what interfaces they use.
This is a partial list - there are too many minor model number variants used in different countries to list them all - but it covers most of the common ones.
Casio CSF-4650 CSF-4950 CSF-7950 CSF-8950 C-300 IP-800 NX-4000 NX-6000 SF-A10 SF-A20 SF-A30 SF-M10 SF-R10 SF-R20 SF-4300 SF-4300A SF-4300B SF-4300R SF-4400 SF-4600 SF-4600B SF-4600RS* SF-4600C SF-4700C SF-4700L SF-4900C SF-4900L SF-4900RS* SF-4900Z* SF-4950Z* SF-4980ER SF-4980Z SF-4985 SF-4985ER SF-5100 SF-5300 SF-5300B SF-5300E SF-5500B SF-5580 SF-5580RS* SF-5590SY SF-5780 SF-5780RS* SF-5790SY SF-5980 SF-5990SY SF-5600AR SF-6300 SF-6500SY SF-6700SY SF-6900SY SF-7000 SF-7100SY SF-7200SY SF-7500 SF-7600SP SF-7900 SF-7900E SF-8000 SF-8300 SF-8350 SF-8350R SF-8500 SF-8900 SF-9000 SF-9350 SF-9500 SF-9600 SF-9700
Radio Shack EC-356 EC-357 EC-361 EC-394 EC-442, 65-717, 65-779 (also known as Oregon Scientific EX3301, EX3601, EX3801, PDB192, and MD4125)
Sharp EL-6660 EL-6660A EL-6690 EL-6690A EL-6790 EL-6890 EL-6985 EL-6990 YO-130 YO-150 YO-170 YO-180 YO-190 YO-195 YO-200 YO-200 YO-250M YO-260M YO-270 YO-290 YO-300 YO-310 YO-320 YO-350 YO-350CP YO-370 YO-370CP YO-380 YO-390 YO-400 YO-430 YO-470 YO-480 YO-500 YO-530 YO-550 YO-600 YO-610 YO-620 YO-630 OZ-570 OZ-640 OZ-650 OZ-700 OZ-730 OZ-750 OZ-770 TM-20 ZQ-M155T ZQ-160 ZQ-165 ZQ-180 ZQ-190 ZQ-195 ZQ-270 ZQ-290 ZQ-480 ZQ-485 ZQ-570 ZQ-640 ZQ-650 ZQ-700 ZQ-730 ZQ-750 ZQ-770 ZQ-3200 ZQ-4200 ZQ-4300 ZQ-4400 ZQ-4500 ZQ-4600 ZQ-5650
* - Russian and Czech character set translation tables for Windows available to registered users on request
For Casio SF/CSF/NX digital diaries XLink/Win supports all models with the built-in 2.5mm or 3.5mm size serial port using any compatible Casio serial cable (see Casio cables).
For Sharp YO/ZQ/EL electronic organizers XLink/Win supports those models with the 4-pin slot serial port or the newer 2.5mm round connector on the side (see Compatibility for more information). For the 4-pin slot serial port you will need the new smart serial cable for Windows - older Sharp serial cables designed for DOS will not work because of timing problems with Windows. This is the cable sold by Sharp as the CE-139T in the CE-490W/491W package, or you can order a less expensive compatible kit with cable and software from IMSL Software.
XLink/Win supports all the native data types and options for the supported organizer models, including Telephone (with multiple files and free fields), Business Card (with free fields), Memo (with multiple files), Schedule, Reminder (1 and 2), Anniversary (1 and 2), Calendar (Highlights and Colors), ToDo (all variants), Expense (all variants), Free Files, Sketch, Schedule Sketch, Outline, and Lucid 3D spreadsheets.
A few minor restrictions apply:
Most of the Casio diaries and Sharp organizers are not capable of a true incremental synch, that is where the two sides send each other their changes and both databases are matched at the end of the operation. These units lack the ability to track changes, and do not allow existing records to be modified or deleted during a one-way data transmission.
XLink/Win does provide the capability to identify and integrate all changes from the organizer, update the common database, and re-load the organizer with a new matching copy of the database. You can read more about this in the XLink/Win Help file under the topic Data Synchronization.
How is this different from a true synch?
The Casio SF-5x90/6x00SY/7x00SY models are an exception to this. The SY models do support a true synch with the two capabilities listed above which are missing from the other models. The Synchronize function is separate from the standard Send and Receive functions, which they also support. XLink/Win partly supports the Synchronize function, allowing it to be used for exchanging only changes to the data. However XLink/Win currently does not support a mechanism to track changes by record number, so there is no way to perform a fully automatic synch with these models.
XLink/Win is currently at version 2.8. It is available in a 16-bit version for all versions of Windows, and a 32-bit version for Win9x/WinNT/2000. The English-language shareware versions are available for download from this site. A Portuguese-language version is also available on request (sample screen).
Yes, all versions are compatible with Vista. However, it is recommended that you use version 2.8 with Vista in order to avoid warnings and error messages if you hav UAC enabled in Vista. If you are using an earlier version, you must move the xlinkw.ini file from the program directory (usually C:\Program Files\Xlinkw) to a folder where you are allowed to write files, such as your My Documents folder. Then you must configure the program startup shortcut to start the program in that directory. The program startup shortcut you use may be on your Windows Start menu, or on your desktop. To change the data folder, right-click the XLink/Win startup shortcut, select Properties, and change the "Start in:" field to the path of the folder where you have put the xlinkw.ini file. All organizer data files created by the program will put placed in that folder by default as well.
XLink/Win is a later version of CASIF/Win which incorporates support for Sharp organizers as well as Casio digital diaries. The original version 1.0 of CASIF/Win was introduced in 1994. The last shareware version of CASIF/Win was version 1.9e, released in early 1999. No new shareware versions of CASIF/Win have been released since XLink/Win was introduced, and none are planned since we do not want to support two different programs. XLink/Win includes all the capabilities of CASIF/Win, and is not made significantly larger or more complex by including the Sharp support. There are a few OEM versions of CASIF/Win still sold with kits intended for use with Casio diaries only which are kept up to date with the current release of XLink/Win.
All you need is Windows, one free serial port, and a serial interface cable compatible with your electronic organizer model. XLink/Win does not require a lot of disk space or CPU speed. It will run on any version of Windows since Windows 3.1 or Windows NT 3.5, including Windows 3.11, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows/NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Vista, WinOS2, Windows emulators for Mac such as Softwin or Virtual PC, and the Wine Windows emulator for Unix (including Linux). It uses only standard hardware and software features supported by all systems, so it is broadly compatible with everything.
The download package contains everything you need to install and run XLink/Win.
You must supply your own organizer serial cable. XLink/Win supports all types of Casio serial cables, but only certain cables for the Sharp organizers. For more information on cables, including where to get one if you don't have one, see Casio Cables or Sharp Cables.
There are several other programs available for use with Casio and Sharp organizers, including those distributed by Casio and Sharp with their backup kits (see Other Software). All the programs have some individual strengths and limitations, and no single program is ideal for all users and all uses. Some of the strengths of XLink/Win compared to other organizer backup programs:
If you already have a serial cable or you can build one yourself, you can easily download the shareware version of XLink/Win for free and give it a try.
Yes! XLink/Win is distributed as trial software so that you can evaluate it for free for 30 days to see if it meets your needs. If you want to keep it, you must register to continue using the program. The trial version has a few limitations which should not prevent you from evaluating all of the functions. It will never erase your data or prevent you from restoring a backup even if you do not register.
As an additional encouragement to register, there are some extras available only to registered users on the registered users web page.
Free trial distribution means that you can download a free evaluation copy of the unregistered version of the program so that you have a chance to evaluate it before you pay. It does not mean that the program itself is free. You are allowed 30 days for evaluation with XLink/Win - then you must either register and pay, or else stop using the program.
Free trial distribution benefits everyone. The distribution costs are lower without having to pay for the overhead of a retail distribution channel, so the price of the software can remain low. Delivery is fast, since potential users can download it or copy it without having to go to a retail store or order it by mail. And best of all, you get a chance to use the software and evaluate it fully before you buy.
The only problem is that free trial distribution depends partly on trust - the vendor must trust the user to pay for registration after evaluating the software and deciding to keep it. Of course, human nature being what it is, many people will put off paying with excuses like "I'll get around to it next month...", or "There's just one more feature I haven't had a chance to evaluate yet...", and some people will have no intention of paying - "It's not perfect, so I don't think I should have to pay..." or "I don't plan to use it all that much...", or just "Hey, let the other suckers pay...". Statistics show that a lot of people will not get around to paying for the free trial software they use without some encouragement, so software distributors are reluctantly forced to add some encouragement in the form of both positive and negative incentives. In the case of XLink/Win the positive incentives are that the price is as low as possible, and you get free accessories, free upgrades, and free technical support when you register. The negative incentives are that you are always reminded to register when using the unregistered program, and there is a limit on the number of organizer records you can translate to and from text format.
XLink/Win version 2.84 has been released for all users (see What's new in 2.84). This latest update is primarily for users of the Sharp OZ/ZQ Wizard models, particularly those supporting the User File data type.
XLink/Win version 2.8 has been tested with the final version of Windows 7 which Microsoft has released to manufacturing, and there are no known compatibility problems.
XLink/Win version 2.8 has been released (see What's new in 2.8). This is a minor update, intended primarily to make the program more Vista-friendly. The default application folders are changed to comply with the Microsoft standards which are more rigorously enforced in Vista, and certain internal functions which caused unnecessary warnings from Vista's User Access Control have been altered to avoid the problem. In addition there are some new functions for more convenient import and export of files, and support for Microsoft Outlook format.
Version 2.7b of XLink/Win got a few very minor internal bug fixes, primary fixing a sync bug on for the EL-6990, YO/ZQ-270, and YO/ZQ-290. The software posted on the web site has been updated, but the version number remains the same.
A new version 2.7b of XLink/Win has been released which adds some minor new features and fixes some bugs in 2.7a.
A new version 2.7a of XLink/Win has been released this week which adds support for the Sharp EL-6990, YO-270 (ZQ-270) and YO-290 (ZQ-290) organizer models. (Note that the OZ-290 or ZQ-290 Mark II model is not the same as the YO/ZQ-290 model - although they appear similar, they use a different communication protocol.) This version of XLink/Win also adds new support for reading fragmented memory backups from the EL-6790/6890, YO/ZQ-180/190/195/480/485, and YO/ZQ-150/170/470 models, and corrects a problem with the RLynx-YO cable.
XLink/Win 2.6a has been released, and the trial version is available for download. It includes some minor new features, several model-specific updates for Sharp organizers, and support for new Radio Shack and Oregon Scientific EX Databank models made by IDT. It is currently available in English and Portugese. New German and Slovak versions should be available before the end of the year.
In response to many requests, detailed instructions and import/export templates for exchanging data between XLink/Win and Microsoft Outlook have been posted on the registered users web page (wouldn't do shareware trial users much good since they can only transfer 20 items). Instructions for exchanging data with Palm Desktop have also been posted for those migrating data to Palm PDAs.
XLink/Win 2.5e is now released and is posted on the IMSL Software web site. See What's new in 2.5e for details.
The latest release 2.5e of XLink/Win is now available to registered users in Portuguese, including a complete translation of the Help file.
The latest release 2.5e of XLink/Win is now available to registered users from the registered users web page. It includes several model-specific updates for Casio SF, Casio CSF/NX, Sharp YO, Sharp EL, and Sharp OZ models.
The XLink/Win 2.5d release is now available for download. It includes a number of minor bug fixes and support for the Sharp OZ and TM models.
The XLink/Win 2.5b release is now available for download.
It includes a number of minor bug fixes and the following updates:
- In this release it is possible to send single items to the Sharp organizer directly from
the item form in XLink/Win without erasing the existing organizer contents in that data
mode. A new function "Transmit later" has been added to the item form to make it
easier to batch up single-item updates to send as a group.
- You can now use the keyword {WAIT n} in macros to delay for n seconds (0 is allowed).
This allows pending operations to complete before continuing with the macro.
- A new import option now appears in the import field list to read the Alarm On/Off field
exported from Microsoft Outlook.
- You can now turn Reminder replication on and off, and replicated Reminders are
automatically recombined when exporting.
- The install program automatically avoids overwriting any existing Xlinkw.ini file and
automatically transfers registration and model settings if necessary.
A new Message Board has been set up with sections on using XLink/Win software. The message board is open for message posting by anyone. It is preferable to post technical support questions to the message board if they are of general interest. Of course we will still answer technical support questions by email. Read the News and Announcements section for more information on the message board.
Version 2.5 of XLink/Win is now available for download. This version adds the ability to customize field names and form layouts. The Form Layout Editor is available separately to registered users.
It has been confirmed that XLink/Win runs without modification on the WINE Windows emulator for Unix (including Linux). WINE can be downloaded free from http://www.winehq.com.
An up-to-date version 2.4 of XLink/Win is now available in Portuguese, although it will be some time before the Help file is fully translated. Available to registered users only.
A última versão do programa XLink/Win é disponivel em português agora, mas vai precisar mais tempo para traduzir o arquivo de Ajuda completo. Os usarios registrados podem pedir de IMSL Software.
A nearly-complete German translation also exists. If there is enough user interest, it might become available, so send a message if you are interested!
Affecting SF-Axx models only, a Y2K update is available for XLink/Win to handle the problem that dates in the year 2000 appear as 19A0 when text Schedule items are re-converted to diary format and sent back to the diary.
New registration options are now available, including lower-priced credit card registrations and more payment options in Europe (such as Eurocheques and payment in Euros). See the registration web page.
Current year holiday schedule files for the USA and Canada are available for download, and will be updated annually. Thanks to Verne Nelson for preparing the original USA holidays file.
XLink/Win has been updated to support the Czech character set of the SF-49xxZ models. Contact IMSL Software if you need this update.
The shareware 32-bit version 2.3 of XLink/Win has been released and is available for download. The 32-bit version supports the Win 95/98/NT 32-bit file system including links and long file names, and DAO for access to 32-bit databases such as Access 95/97, ODBC-32, etc. Please note that the 32-bit version has the same shareware restrictions as the 16-bit version. Previously-registered users of CASIF/Win or XLink/Win can upgrade to the 32-bit version at the upgrade price.
An update is available to support the SF-5x80RS Russian models. Please contact IMSL Software for the update.
For those who use XLink/Win, an update is available to support the new Sharp YO-180/480, ZQ-160/165/480/485, and EL-6790 models which come with the new 2.5mm-plug serial cable.
Registered users of CASIF/Win can download XLink/Win version 2.3 from the registered users web page. Versions between 1.9 and 2.3 were commercial OEM releases which were not released as shareware. The program version number has been jumped to 2.3 for consistency with the core code version. The new version includes many small enhancements and bug fixes which have been made in the core code, but no major feature changes.
The SF-6x00SY models (SF-6500SY, SF-6700SY, and SF-6900SY) models use a slightly different communications protocol than previous models in the SF-5x80 and SF-5x90SY series. Please contact us for information on XLink/Win version 2.3 if you need support for these models (this update supports the Sync mode for SF-5x90SY and SF-6700SY models). Cable specifications for the SF-5x90SY/6x00SY 12v serial cable with the larger 3.5mm plug are also available from IMSL Software.
Registered users of CASIF/Win and XLink/Win who require features of the Win95/98 file system or support for 32-bit databases such as Access 95/97 or ODBC32 should contact IMSL Software to obtain the 32-bit version.
Several updates were made to CASIF/Win for the SF-A10/20/30 and C-300 models. Here's a brief summary:
Some complaints have been received from people who lost their all data or corrupted their Windows installation after using a copy of CASIF/Win which appear to be registered to "dEVIL".
If you have obtained a version of CASIF/Win from some source other than this site, and especially if it appears to be Version 1.9d or earlier, you should erase it completely and download a new version from this site.
Those who have been around for a while will remember the Casio diary mailing list which Mike Shirley ran for several years before it shut down last year. There was never a lot of general discussion traffic on Casio diaries, mostly requests for the sort of basic information which can now be found more easily on web sites like this one. However, there are some that miss the mailing list, and an open mailing list service is now offered on the Internet through Listbot which makes it relatively easy to set up any kind of special interest mailing list. So let's give it a try!
Rather than a general Casio diary mailing list, we have set up a CASIF/Win-specific mailing list. However, messages on any Casio diary-related topic are encouraged, and you do not have to be a registered user of CASIF/Win to participate (there is a separate announcement mailing list for registered users - see the registered users web page). This is a moderated mailing list (i.e. no junk postings, no off-topic postings, and no repetition of basic enquiries which are already answered on the web site unless it would be generally helpful). Feel free to post whatever you want, but it may be filtered out or responded to privately instead if it falls into one of the non-relevant categories. We may experiment with the mailing frequency and charactertics of the list a little initially, so please also post any suggestions or comments you have on the mailing list itself. You can unsubscribe at any time with one button click on the same page you sign up on.
The sign-up and list access address is http:// CASIFWIN.listbot.com/. The mailing address to post messages to the list is CASIFWIN @ listbot.com.
NEW: See Message Board above
An update of CASIF/Win is available to support the "To Same Model" communications option of these Russian-language models. It includes a character substitution file to support the Windows Cyrillic character set (thanks to Roman Moroz). Registered users with one of these models should check the registered users web page or contact IMSL Software for the update.
These Russian language models use a special Cyrillic character set, and include an option on the Communications menu to preserve the Cyrillic characters ("To same model") or translate to standard ASCII ("To other model") when Sending data. A different data format is used when sending "To same model". If the option "To other model" is used, the untranslateable Cyrillic characters appear as blanks. Versions of CASIF/Win V1.9e prior to this date support only this mode.
A new product called XLink/Win which supports both Casio diaries and Sharp YO/ZQ/EL/OZ organizers (including the new YO-150/170/470 models) is now available. It is based on our CASIF/Win product for Casio diaries. Please contact IMSL Software if you want to try it. Important note: you will need the new smart serial cable designed by Aegis Technologies - older DOS cables for these Sharp models will not work with Windows.
Windows Link V2.1 for Sharp Organizers is now shipping with the new Sharp communications software licensed from IMSL Software. Anyone who was waiting for Sharp/Rupp's delayed CE-490W package will find Windows Link a superior product. See Windows Link web site.
CASIF/Win has been confirmed to run properly under Win98. CASIF/Win runs under all versions of Windows from 3.1 on, including Win95, Windows/NT, Windows for Workgroups, WinOS2, and various Windows emulators for the Mac.
CASIF/Win is distributed a 16-bit application for compact size and global compatibility. However this means that it cannot use features of the Win95 file system such as long file names and links. Please contact IMSL Software if you are interested in the 32-bit registered version.
Windows Link V2.0 is now shipping with Casio communications software licensed from IMSL Software, replacing the previous software from Intellilink. See Windows Link web site.
CASIF/Win Version 1.9e shareware version has been released, and has replaced Version 1.9d on the IMSL web site.
Update: The last revision of CASIF/Win V1.9e was in July 1999. After this date it was replaced by XLink/Win 2.3. Download CASIF/Win V1.9e July, 1999
CASIF/Win Version 1.9e updates from Version 1.9d include:
- support for SF-A10 series and the new SF-4700L, SF-4900L and
SF-5x90 models
- enhanced Sketch data support for the NX-series
- changes to the CSV text file import function to allow an unlimited
number of import fields and to import Lotus Organizer 2.1 Date+Time fields
- Test button in COM port settings window
- a minor revision to transmission start-sequence timing which might
help some users who could only send data to the Casio diary at 2400 or 4800 baud
- other minor bug fixes
