Michael,

What do you mean? A MAX232 only translates voltage levels from logic to RS-232. It does not simulate anything! If you are interfacing directly to a chip, do you need a MAX232 anyway?

If you do need to use hardware flow control, there is no other place to do it than in your controller. Only there can you decide if there is still enough room in the receive buffer and only there can you stop transmission when the receiver on the other end requests so.

So I guess you're going to have to use those port pins, after all ;o)

Best regards,
Rob.