>> In the Process method, should I use of NET:SimplePartialDataPacket instead of NET:SimpleWholeDataPacket?
yes.
>> Is the WholeDataPacket just something you get from another nettalk program,
yes (although the protocol is trivial, so could be coded in any language)
>> or the normal way to receive requests from things like java, C#, python or whatever the outside program is coded in?
no.
>> I'm tasked with making a server for outside vendors to send IP messages to and get responses from. Maybe I should just use GET and POST with a web server instead of a netsimple server?
this is what I'd do. HTTP is a well understood protocol on the internet, so sending messages to, and getting replies from, a HTTP server is something everyone understands. ("web services" usually use HTTP as the protocol of choice, although in practice you can make a "web service" running over any protocol.)
In practice;
a) a lot of companies shut down all ports except port 80. So for maximum usuability you want your communication to use port 80.
b) If you use port 80 it's a _lot_ better to use HTTP. Lots of systems expect port 80 to use HTTP, so if it's missing it can cause communication problems.
cheers
Bruce