A multiline communications adapter shares control of the same data communications line by the mutually incompatible X. 21 switched connect/disconnect protocol and SDLC/BSC (Synchronous Data Link Control/Binary Synchronous Communication) transfer protocols. The X. 21 switched connect/disconnect function is isolated into a reentrant microcode module. Commands from tasks that require connection or disconnection of the data link are routed to the X. 21 module. It is shown how the X. 21 module has the ability to gain control of the data communications line to perform the character synchronous X. 21 connect/disconnect function that is based on the international alphabet number 5 character code.