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B M R
Broadcast Message Receiver v2.0
for
Netware and OS/2
BMR - Broadcast Message Receiver for Netware and OS/2
User's Manual
Introduction
============
BMR is an OS/2 PM hosted utility for use with Novell Netware
LANs. It's purpose is to intercept those often annoying "popup"
messages that result from other users and/or the network software
"sending" you messages. Instead of a VIO popup screen
interrupting your work every time a message is received, BMR
collects these message and displays them in a scrollable listbox.
In addition, messages can be sent to one or more users using BMR.
Users are selected from a "drop down" or a listbox (depending on
the runtime mode selected). Multiple users and/or groups may be
targeted at one time. Outgoing messages are recorded in the
receive listbox for later reference, and may be resent if they
need be.
Double clicking on a line in the receive listbox will attempt to
select the user attached to that line. This makes replying to
multiple users easier.
BMR has some useful configuration options, too. First, there are
five different interfaces to choose from. Each interface has the
same basic functionality, but varies in the size and type of
controls. You can change to the "next" interface mode simply by
pressing the ">" button. In addition, an "Option" button lets
you control other features. You may control the "beep" alarm
that sounds when new messages are received. You may turn all
message reception off, or simply accept messages but notify the
sender that you are "away". The message that is "returned to
sender" is also configurable, so it's easy to say what you want
(for example, "Nick is away until 12:00".) The amount of
information given to you when group messages are sent is
configurable. There are also several selections controlling how
multiple-servers are handled. Finally, you can specify how often
to refresh the user list, if at all, and how to differentiate
between logged on and inactive users.
Configurable options are stored in a file called BMR.INI and are
restored the next time BMR is invoked.
----------------------------------------------------------------
BMR User's Guide Page 1
NOTICE
======
This IS a shareware package, and does require a registration fee
if you choose to continue using it after 30 days. The
registration fee is currently $15 US for individual users. For a
server license (aimed more at company purchases), the fee is $35
for any number of users on a single server ($35 per server).
When you register, you will be sent the latest "registered"
version of BMR. This version will no longer display the startup
screen present in the non-registered version.
----------------------------------------------------------------
BMR User's Guide Page 2
----------------------------------------------------------------
IMPORTANT: READ THE READ.ME FILE FOR NEW FEATURES AND BUG FIXES
----------------------------------------------------------------
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
======================
THIS SOFTWARE AND MANUAL ARE DISTRIBUTED AND SOLD "AS IS" AND
WITHOUT WARRANTIES AS TO PERFORMANCE OF MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY
OTHER WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. BECAUSE OF THE
VARIOUS HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENTS INTO WHICH THIS
PROGRAM MAY BE PUT, NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE IS OFFERED.
GOOD OPERATING PROCEDURE DICTATES THAT ANY PROGRAM BE THOROUGHLY
TESTED WITH NON-CRITICAL DATA BEFORE RELYING ON IT. THE USER
MUST ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING THE PROGRAM. ANY LIABILITY
OF THE SELLER WILL BE LIMITED EXCLUSIVELY TO PRODUCT REPLACEMENT
OR REFUND OF PURCHASE PRICE.
----------------------------------------------------------------
BMR User's Guide Page 3
Major Features
==============
o OS/2 PM specific. Other platforms may be supported if a need
is present. Multithreaded design.
o Supports multiple servers with control over how server names
are displayed. You may also control how the user list is
built. Users may be listed for specific servers if desired.
o Received messages are captured into a scrollable listbox. The
listbox is cleared only by user command.
o Multiple modes - several dialog box front ends are available
to accommodate as many users as possible. Pass BMR a simple
single digit number parameter from 1 to 5 (e.g., "BMR 2").
Modes can be switched from within BMR, also, and your last
selected mode will be remembered and set as your start-up
default.
o Can be configured to automatically rebuild the user list after
a specified period of time. Can identify inactive users by
half-toning their names, or can show logged-in users only.
User-list refresh is also available "on demand" via a small
push-button.
o Focus-sensitive beeper alerts you to new messages ONLY if BMR
does not have the "focus", if desired. In addition, the alarm
can be made to always beep, or to never beep. You also have
control over the tone of the beep used.
o Sends messages, too. Target users/groups are selectable via a
drop down list or full listbox. You may also send messages to
the console.
o Resend any previously sent/received message simply by clicking
on any message displayed in the received listbox.
o Double click on any receive box line to auto-select the
associated user for replying.
o Clear all selected users by clicking on the user-count button.
o A configurable "return to sender" message may be sent to any
user trying to send you messages. It's easy to inform people
that you are away for some time or in a meeting. You may also
simply "cast off" and choose to receive no messages (sending
is *always* possible).
o Privacy mode is available (F11) as well as a last received
line recall (F12).
----------------------------------------------------------------
BMR User's Guide Page 4
Installing BMR
===============
Unpack the BMR_200.ZIP file into an appropriate directory ("\BMR",
for instance). All BMR files should be kept together in the same
directory.
Unpacking BMR_200.ZIP is all that's involved in installing BMR. We
suggest creating an icon for BMR and placing it either on the WPS
desktop or in your startup folder.
NOTE: BMR v2.0 now requires the Netware requester for OS/2 v2.01.
Please do not use the NWCALLS.DLL file distributed with v1.0. This
is now obsolete and only the 2.01 requester is supported.
BMR does require a PC running OS/2 and attached to a Novell Netware
network. At this time, BMR is a 16-bit application and thus, it
should be functional with OS/2 1.3. This remains untested. The
development and test system consisted of OS/2 2.0 and 2.1 attached
to a Novell 3.11 network server.
START-UP FOLDER NOTES:
We have found some users have trouble starting BMR by placing it in
the system startup folder. This has to do with the timing of your
Netware login with BMR's startup. BMR requires a live Netware
connection and cannot provide a user list or message services
unless you are logged on.
Internally, we have migrated to loading BMR via the "startup.cmd"
file, AFTER this script has logged us onto the server. This seems
to work most reliably. For example, if you have placed BMR in the
directory "N:\BMR", then you would add this line near the end of
your startup.cmd file:
Start /PM n:\bmr\bmr.exe
----------------------------------------------------------------
BMR User's Guide Page 5
Using BMR for the First Time
=============================
BMR's user interface consists mainly of one screen. This screen
contains a user selection list, the received message listbox and 5
buttons. This simplicity makes BMR easy to use, even without a
manual.
User List
---------
The User List contains the names of all account names on the
server, as well as the console and any groups. Any messages sent
from BMR will be received by the users selected here. The behavior
of this listbox depends on the mode of BMR. In mode 2, the User
List is a standard drop-down combo box, in which one user name may
be selected. In modes 1 and 3 - 5, the User List is a
multiple-selection list box, in which any number of user names may
be selected. All selected users will receive any messages sent
from BMR.
The display of names placed in the user list box is highly
configurable. Settings available from the option screen control
the amount of users displayed and the format for each name. You
may specify users from all attached servers be displayed, or only
names from a single selected server. You can control whether or
not the server names are displayed with each user name. You can
also specify that BMR display only logged in users, that inactive
users be displayed in half-tones, or to display ALL users without
identifying their status.
Send Box
--------
This box is where you type messages to be sent. A message may be
up to 50 characters long. If you try to type beyond 50 characters,
BMR will beep and stop accepting keystrokes. The Send Box keeps
the focus even when you click other areas of BMR with the mouse.
----------------------------------------------------------------
BMR User's Guide Page 6
Receive Box
-----------
This list box displays all messages sent or received by BMR.
Messages that you sent will be displayed in the form:
Message Text->YourAccountName
while messages received by you will be displayed in the form:
FromAccountName: Message Text
In addition to these messages, you will also receive error reports.
If a user is not logged on, not accepting messages, or away, you
will be notified in this list box.
The "FromAccountName" can be either a simple user name (e.g.,
"john: Hi!") or may be configured to include the server's name from
which the message originated (e.g., "(DS9)john: Hi!").
Selecting any message in the Receive Box with the mouse causes the
text to be copied into the send box, so that you can resend a
message or forward one. The User Name will be stripped from the
message, and only the text copied.
Double clicking on any received line will cause BMR to attempt to
select the user associated with that message for replying.
----------------------------------------------------------------
BMR User's Guide Page 7
User Count Button
-----------------
This button is always filled with a number. This number represents
the count of user names and/or groups currently marked in the "to"
user selection list. Clicking on this button will clear all
selections from the listbox and set the counter back to zero.
Move Window Button (Mode 5 Only)
--------------------------------
BMR Mode 5 has no title bar to aid in moving the display to a
desired position. To allow placement in this mode, a small,
unlabeled "move" button has been provided. This button is located
on the bottom of the display between the two list boxes. To move
the dialog box, simply click on the button, move the outline frame
to the desired position and click again.
User List Refresh Button
------------------------
Clicking on this small, unlabeled button placed directly next to
the user list box will refresh the user list. The new list will
reflect any changes in status for each user. BMR attempts to
reselect any/all users and groups highlighted when the refresh is
requested.
When multiple servers are present, and the configuration calls for
displaying users from a selected server only, this button becomes
very handy. To switch the user list to one from a different
server, simply highlight the new server to list and click on the
refresh button. Users from the selected server will be displayed.
NOTE that refreshing of the user list may also be performed
automatically. By specifying a refresh period (in seconds) on the
option screen, BMR can be made to constantly update the user list,
keeping its contents up-to-date and meaningful.
----------------------------------------------------------------
BMR User's Guide Page 8
The OPTION Button
=================
Pressing this button will display the Configuration Options entry
screen. There are several groups of switches and a couple of text
entry fields on this screen. These fields provide flexible control
over the message "beeper", your message receiving state and the
amount of detail BMR displays back to you as groups are expanded.
In addition, you may define a short text string to send to any user
that attempts to contact you while you are marked as unavailable.
Each field on this screen is described below.
Beeper
------
This is a set of three radio buttons that controls the "beeper"
alarm that is sounded when any new message is received. It
initially defaults to "Background". If a message is received, BMR
will sound the alarm if and only if it does not have the current
WPS focus (you're currently working with a different application).
If "Never" is selected, beeping is totally disabled and you will
hear no audible signal as messages are received. If "Always" is
selected, BMR will always beep upon a message reception, whether
BMR is currently the active window or not.
Beep Type
---------
This controls the type of tone used when BMR activates its beeper
alarm. It defaults to "Info" but may be set to "Warning" or
"Error". These tones reflect the OS/2 PM warning level tones.
"Info" is the highest level beep, "Warning" is middle level and
"Error" is a lower-sounding tone. With the Multimedia package
installed, the tones are more colorful.
Return to Sender
----------------
This set of buttons allows for three different modes. The initial
default mode is "Accept all messages". All incoming messages will
be received and recorded in the message listbox. If "Accept and
notify sender" is selected, BMR goes into "user is away" mode. All
incoming messages are accepted and displayed in the message
listbox, but a return message is automatically returned to the user
who originated the message. This message identifies you by user
name, followed by the text that you define in the return message
"text entry" field. If "Return all messages" is chosen, you are in
"cast off" mode. The result is the same as if you had used the
Netware "Castoff" command line utility. All users sending you
messages will be notified that you are not accepting messages.
Netware will reject the messages before they get to BMR, so you
will not see any messages appearing in the received message
listbox.
----------------------------------------------------------------
BMR User's Guide Page 9
Return to Sender Message
------------------------
This is a text entry field that identifies the message you wish to
send when you are marked as unavailable. BMR will append this
message to your user name, identifying you as the "sender". For
example, if you fill this field with "is unavailable until 3:30",
anyone sending you a line message will immediately be sent a
message that states (using "Nick" as the login name):
"Nick - is unavailable until 3:30".
This message is send automatically if and only if the "Return to
sender" group has "Return all messages" selected.
Report Group Expansion
----------------------
This group of selections is used to indicate how much information
you wish to see reported to the receive listbox when groups are
expanded. If "Nothing" is selected, no expansion information is
displayed. Group messages are sent "blind" and you are not
informed of the user names that messages were sent to, and all
error reporting (e.g., "not logged in") is suppressed. If the "All
errors" option is selected, then groups are still not reported by
individual names unless an error occurs. In this case, users that
are not logged on, are not accepting message, or are unable to see
your message for whatever reason are listed in the receive listbox.
If "All users" is chosen, then complete reporting is enabled. In
this mode, the "send" to each user is reported to the receive
listbox, as well as any error conditions that occur.
Display Users
-------------
This is another set of options that provides control over the user
list display. If "All users" is selected, the user list shows all
users in the default mode with no differentiation between logged in
users and those that aren't. If "Logged out = grey" is chosen,
then users that are logged-in and active are displayed in normal
text, while those user names that exist but are not currently
logged in will be displayed in a grey "half-tone" color. The
"Logged-in only" option lists only those users active and logged-
in. Inactive users are not displayed at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------
BMR User's Guide Page 10
Show Users From
---------------
This group of options controls then behavior of the user name list.
The options here are meant primarily to aid installations that have
multiple servers connected.
If the option "All servers" is selected, then the user list box
will contain a complete list of users from all servers with which
you are connected. If "One Server Only" is chosen, BMR works in a
different manner. The very first time BMR is invoked in this mode,
the listbox will show only server names for you to choose from.
You may select one of these servers simply by highlighting it
(click on it once). To obtain a user list for that server, simply
click on the small user-refresh button located next to the user
list. NOTE that server names are always displayed at the top of
the user list box. To display a list of users from a different
server, simply mark the desired server and press the refresh
button. The final option, "All unique users" will list all users
from all known connections, but will suppress the listing of
duplicate user names.
Show server on Receive
----------------------
This checkbox field controls the way the "from user" name is
displayed when incoming messages are received. If checked, all
incoming messages will be identified by source server name, source
user name, followed by the message. If unchecked, then only the
from user name and message are displayed; the server name is
suppressed.
Auto Refresh
------------
This entry field will accept numeric values representing a count of
seconds. If set to 0 (zero), automatic refresh is suppressed.
Setting it to any other positive value will specify the number of
seconds between user list refreshes. If, for example, you provide
a value of 240, then the user list will be automatically updated
and refreshed every 4 minutes.
The CLEAR Button
================
This button allows you to clear both the SEND message box and the
RECEIVED listbox. When you press CLEAR, BMR checks to see if any
text is currently present in the SEND message entry box. If
something is there, BMR clears only that text. If no text exists
in the SEND message box, BMR clears the RECEIVED message listbox.
Simply double clicking on the CLEAR button insures a completely
clear state.
----------------------------------------------------------------
BMR User's Guide Page 11
The MODE Button [>]
===================
This button may be pressed to change the main BMR dialog box to the
next "mode". For example, if you load BMR initially with no
parameters, MODE 1 is invoked. You may press the MODE button one
time to see MODE 2, then press it again to see MODE 3. When the
last MODE is reached, BMR will set the mode back to MODE 1.
Each dialog mode works in basically the same way. The difference
is mostly in the overall size of the dialog box and the fields it
contains. Once you find the mode option that suites you the best,
simply exit BMR with that mode active. BMR saves the current mode
and screen position in the BMR.INI file, and will restore your
previous state upon reentry.
NOTE: If a mode parameter is specified to BMR on startup (e.g.,
"BMR 3"), then this mode overrides the mode saved in BMR.INI.
Privacy Mode
============
You may press the F11 key at any time to invoke Privacy Mode. BMR
will paint another copy of its interface dialog over itself. This
screen appears normal but is inactive. The active version of the
screen remains underneath until a key is pressed. During this
time, the beeper is disabled, but messages can be received and are
recorded. Anyone sending you a message while you are in privacy
mode will automatically be sent a message stating "UserName - has
invoked privacy mode".
Last Line Recall
================
You may press F12 at any time to repost the last incoming message
to the received listbox. This is handy for those times that a
message appears in the receive box just as you are clearing
previous messages. Previously, this message and any reference to
the sender would be lost. The F12 key may now be used to recall
this message.
----------------------------------------------------------------
BMR User's Guide Page 12
CONTACTING THE AUTHORS
======================
Authors: John Lathem and Nick Knight
You may contact either one of us in a number of ways.
Unfortunately, we can't provide a phone number at this time.
US Mail: John Lathem Nick Knight
4278 W. 223rd Street 1823 David Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio 44126 Parma, Ohio 44134
Fax: (216) 734-1836 (ZSpace - John Lathem)
Fido netmail: 1:157/200 to "Nick Knight" or "John Lathem"
Fido Echomail: Echomail messages are discouraged.
Direct BBS: You can leave a message to either of us on the
PC-Ohio BBS (216) 381-3320. This is Fidonet
system 1:157/200 and Fidonet netmail can be
sent to this address.
Internet mail: john.lathem@pcohio.com
nick.knight@pcohio.com
Compuserve: You can contact Nick Knight here. Send mail to
user ID - 76066,1240.
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BMR User's Guide Page 13