Ham Radio 2000 #2

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Text File | 1997-01-03 | 11.5 KB | 269 lines

FASTCHAT Documentation. 15/04/94 Introduction ------------ FASTCHAT is a conferencing program for Net/Rom nodes running the G8BPQ node program, version 4.6 or later. It can handle up to 64 users and 32 seperate conferences. The minimum requirements are:- IBM PC XT with 640k RAM + 360k floppy drive. Desqview. It will work in Windows, but you're on your own. G8BPQ Node Version 4.06. Setting Up FASTCHAT in Desqview ------------------------------- FASTCHAT requires paramters after the filename, these are:- Start host port number 1>64 Number of users (host ports) 1>64 BPQ application mask 1 > 255 (1 = BBS application with own calls) Sysops name (max 10 chars) Text mode , C for colour,M for mono (prevent grey scaling on mono VGA/EGA/CGA) Optional Host interrupt number (defaults to standard 127 {7FH}) 1>255 examples> (note:- the parameters go in the parameter box in Desqview's Add/ -------- change a program first setup screen) FASTCHAT 40 10 8 Bill C Sets up for 10 users starting from host port 40 up to host port 50 on application number 8 (e.g. BBS,,*SYS,CHAT), Sysop Name Bill and using a colour monitor. 1 2 4 8 FASTCHAT 1 64 1 Fred M 126 Sets up for 64 users (the entire host interface of BPQ,only for dedicated CHAT only nodes!) starting at host port 1 and ending at 64, application number 1 (The BBS application , with its own calls e.g. FSCHAT:G7LSQ-9, Sysop name Fred, Mono monitor and a non standard host interrupt of 126 (set in bpqcfg.txt as HOSTINTERRUPT=126). NOTE:- FASTCHAT can only use contiguous free host ports, if any funnys happen then check some other program isnt clashing by trying to use one of the ports allocated to FASTCHAT. Most BBS softwares use HOST ports near 33, some use 1 to 5, so for limited users on a multi application Node, use 40 upwards to be safeish. Sysop commands. --------------- /A ------- User text on new line On/Off /B ------- Sysop Bells ON/OFF /C ------- Close Chat down politely /B n ----- Set Beacon interval /D ------- Write current setup to disk (version |V ,sysop = |N ,Max =|P) /E call -- Hide user toggle /K n ----- Disconnect user on chan n /KKn ----- Disconnect user (no text) /M ------- Monitor user input ON/OFF /n ------- Private msg to channel No.n /L o,c,a - Off, Connects, All text /R Call -- Delete User from User file /S ------- Toggle Sysop In/Out /S text -- Custom Sysop msg /T ------- Toggle sysop word wrap /U ------- Show registered user list /U Call -- Individual user details /W ------- Show logged in users /X Call -- Allow/Exclude Access /Q or F10 Shuts Chat down instantly /H Displays CHATSYS.HLP file.( mine is as above) /A An option suggested locally, when set ON, all users text will be on a new line fron there callsign:name (only to the sysops screen). /B As it says, if Bells are off then FASTCHAT will filter out any chr 7 bell characters to the sysop before they cause the sysops pc spkr to bleep. /B n Sets The interval of the beacon text (3 lines max in CHATBEAC.FST), 0=OFF,1=10 Mins,2=20 Mins etc.. up to 9 = 90 mins interval. If the interval isn't set to 0 then FASTCHAT sends a logged in users beacon each time a user logs on/off. The main beacon text is only sent at intervals set by n. /C Closes FASTCHAT down , boots off all users with a closedown message. /D Writes the settingf of all the sysop toggles to disk so when FASTCHAT is closed / re run, the previous saved setup will be restored, this includes any custom Sysop message active at the time of saving config. /E call Enables the sysop to hide a user from the user list (/U etc..), the main purpose is to lock out any known pirates who log on with ficticious calls like g9usr etc.., once they have registered a name, you can lock them out (see command to come) then hide em from the user list. If you require to lock out calls that haven't connected then if you have ENABLE_LINKED=A in BPQCFG.TXT, you can connect as the unwanted call (internal) by using *** LINKED AS G9USR (or whatever call) in PAC4 then typing CHAT on there to log onto your own chat server, enter a name then log off, Then use /E etc.. in the FASTCHAT window. Typing /E on a hidden user un hides them again. /K n Disconnects a User with the message "goodbye from name the sysop". /KK n same as /K except no goodbye msg (useful for booting of abusers). /M when ON lets the sysop see all / commands entered by users, useful if a user keeps typing the wrong thing etc.. /n Sends a "private" message to a particular user on channel number n, NOTE:- the msg is only as private as the links to that station are. /L O,C,A Log file (CHATLOG.FST) , C = Connects - Logs connects/disconnects, doesn't grow very fast. A = All, Logs everything the sysop sees go past on his display, can grow to well over a meg long if fastchat busy. O = Off - Closes log file if open, doesnt log to disk (ideal for floppys). NOTE:- With either A or C, the LOG file is open all the time and to prevent loss due to crashes etc.. any buffers/cache with log data in it are flushed to file every 10 mins, Log file is automatically closed when FASTCHAT is exited properly with /Q or F10 or if /L O is entered. /R Call Removes stale or otherwise unwanted users from the user list, this actually marks them as deleted and if the entry hasnt been overwritten by a new user logging on then it can be undeleted with /R Call too. /S Toggles either a message saying the sysop is in, or the sysop is out, also if out, prevents the /T bells from being heard. /S TEXT Set the sysop in/out status first then with this command you can enter a line (up to about 78 chars) of custom sysop message text. /T Toggle sysop word-wrap on /off , this enables/disables word wrapping on text entered by the sysop. NOTE:- word wrap is off for any / commands used by the sysop. /U Show a list of registered users (the pause key can help here). /U CALL shows details for just one user (if registered). /W Show who is logged in, the top status window can only show the first 9 users. /X CALL Exclude this callsign from using FASTCHAT (togglable), see /E for more details. /Q or F10 Close FASTCHAT down, boots everybody off but doesnt tell them so. User Commands ------------- FASTCHAT version 4.6e available commands are :- /? or /H - To read this list /n text -- Send a Personal message to user on Channel n (0 > |P) /A ------- Toggle linefeed after callsign:name option On/Off /B ------- To leave chat and return to node /C ------- Display the current Time and Date /C n ----- To switch to conference stream n (0 > 32) /E ------- Toggle expert user status On/Off (Expert=no ctext) /F ------- Turn On/Off your bell filter /I ------- Displays information about FASTCHAT /L Loc --- To register your QTH/Locator (max 35 chars) /N Name -- To register onto the node (also erases QTH) /Q ------- To disconnect from chat and node completely /S ------- Shows sysop information or wether |N is available /S Text -- Send a message to |N the Sysop only /T ------- Wake |N the Sysop up (not at night please) /U ------- List registered FASTCHAT users /U Call -- Show details on registered user /W ------- To list logged in registered users /? or /H Displays the contents of CHATUSER.HLP text file, string references can be included with all FASTCHAT text files using the | character (see later text ). /n Text works the same as the sysop /n bit except the sysop gets to see any private msgs going past. /A when ON sends text on a new line to the user after call:name, this is also saved in the users entry in the user file so is permanent until the user toggles it OFF again. /B leaves FASTCHAT and returns to the Node. /C shows the user the system date/time. /C n Changes the conference channel the user is logged onto (default=0), this allows any one or more of the logged in users to go off and have a more private chat amongst themselves without involving those on channel 0 etc.. /E Expert status, bypasses the Ctext in CHATMOTD.FST when set ON when a user logs On next, also saved in the users entry in the user file. /F turns on/off a filter for chr 7 bell characters, originally requested for people late at might so they can prevent any bells being sent around waking up family etc.. (if spkr not switch offable)., only valid for duration of a connect, defaults OFF at log on. /I Sends information in Text file CHATINFO.FST, primarily for usefull info provided by the Sysop . /L Loc User can enter there location, shoe size etc.. in here, after entering there name with /N Name, Max chars for /L is 35 chars. /N Name FASTCHAT will not allow a New User any / commands until they enter there name, Entering there name also erases there Location of any. /Q Exit FASTCHAT and disconnect entirely. /S shows the sysop message (in or out or custom). /S TEXT Sends a private message to the sysop only. /T if the Sysop has bells enabled and is in then he will get belled to call him to the keys. /U Shows list of registered users. /U CALL Shows details for just the one registered user. /W Lists all stations logged in (registered) and what stream and conference channel they are using. List of FASTCHAT files and type/usage. -------------------------------------- CHATMOTD.FST = Text file, containing non expert status Connect text CHATUSER.FST = coded file, stores user details etc..(do not try and edit) CHATBEAC.FST = Text file, (Don't use | bits in it), 255 char max beacon text CHATLOG.FST = Text file, stores activity if Log set to C or A. CHATCFG.FST = coded file, stores sysop settings.(do not try and edit) CHATUSER.HLP = Text File, User help file /? or /H CHATSYS.HLP = Text File, Sysop help file /H CHATINFO.FST = Text file, Information file defined by sysop /I CHATUSER.NEW = Text File, Optional file to send to New Users of FASTCHAT. List of variable references that can be used in Help/info/motd etc. text files ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |N = Sysops name |U = Users name |W = Users callsign |P = Number of ports available (max users) |V = Version of FASTCHAT |S = Stream User connected on |C = conference User is on |T = System Date/Time |L = Number of users logged in General ------- FASTCHAT is written in Turbo Pascal and is based on CHAT4.PAS which was originally sent out with the G8BPQ code, CHAT4.PAS was written by G8IMB. Please! send any bug reports you may have, FASTCHAT will run in Desqview (and in fact is designed to) in a 50-60 K Window, it uses Indirect video so it doesn't write directly to screen.(this means no problems for 286's and below by not needing the 386 virtualise text bit operational). In DV enter N in all the setup boxes in the first add/change a program screen. I cannot give any advice about using FASTCHAT in Windows 3.x etc..(yukk!). NOTE:- FASTCHAT has not got BPQ Buffer control, try to get users to avoid conecting direct to the node FASTCHAT is running on if they have a poor link else buffers can easily run out trying to get data to them. Buffer control would mean halting chats operation until buffers regained, any comments on fitting this welcome. Inter FASTCHAT linking ---------------------- No inter linking is as officially supported, it will be when i am satisfied that the protocol used is a good one and reasonable compression is used. It's in there somewhere.. Bill - G7LSQ @ GB7BNM.#45.gbr.eu - Creator of FASTCHAT,FASTPMS etc..