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CHATATYA.DOC
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1986-12-13
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Chatatya! Version 1.08d
Copyright (c) 1986 - PC Concepts, Ltd.
Written by John Parlin and Dave Hazelton
CHATATYA! was written to accomodate a chat mode while a remote is dropped to
DOS on a given host. It's great for use with a Fido BBS Outside option.
In order for the program to work properly, the host must be able to view the
remote's actions on the host monitor. Such a program exists to allow this.
It's called IBMAUX20. It allows the host to be interactive with the remote
terminal even while dropped to DOS. This makes it sort of tough for the host
and remote to chat with each other while dropped to DOS since DOS takes
everything typed by either the host or remote as a DOS command. Chatatya!
provides a means of chatting as well as two-way paging which compares the
current DOS time with the configuration file to determine whether or not
paging is allowed. A small message base has also been added.
Chatatya consists of the following files:
CHATATYA.COM
CHATCON.COM
CHATINST.BAT
CHATATYA.DOC
Chatatya gets its parameters from a file called CHATFIG.SYS. This file is
created by CHATCON.COM. CHATATYA.COM and CHATFIG.SYS must reside in their
own directory. The CHATINST.BAT file will create and copy files to this
directory. The directory must be off of the root directory and must be
called \CHAT.
To use CHATINST.BAT
-------------------
From the DOS prompt, type "CHATINST N" where "N" is the drive letter of the
drive that you want to install CHATATYA on. DO NOT enter a colon (:) after
the drive letter. CHATCON.COM will append the colong automatically.
CHATINST.BAT will now create the \CHAT directory off the root of the
specified drive and copy the approriate files. Once finished, you should
have the directory \CHAT on the drive you specified.
Once CHATINST.BAT has finished installing the program, it will call
CHATCON.COM automatically. The CHATFIG.SYS file is created by this program
and contains the answers to the prompts and various other parameters.
About the \CHAT Directory
-------------------------
CHATATYA! files must be in their own subdirectory called \CHAT. CHATATYA
automatically looks for this subdirectory, and if it does not find it, will
give you an error message. The \CHAT subdirectory must be made from the root
directory of the the drive specified in the CHATINST.BAT. If you use the
CHATINST.BAT, you will not have to worry, it will create it as it should be.
About CHATCON.COM
-----------------
Most of it is self explanatory. Answer the questions as they come up. For now,
the paging time and ending time must not cross the midnight time frame. Also,
you cannot enter an ending time before the starting time. (The next version
should support entering any beginning time or ending time.) For example,
if you enter a paging start time of 01:23, and a paging end time of 01:00
you're crossing the midnight timeframe. This is not supported, so the
consequences are "who knows?".
If after running CHATCON.COM, you find you have made an error, or you simply
want to change the configuration file, just rerun CHATCON.COM to create a
new CHATFIG.SYS file.
To use CHATATYA!
----------------
Just type `Chatatya'<CR>. A short intro will be displayed. To display
the Options Menu, type `/' on a newline by itself. The available options
are:
C = Continue chat (leave Options Menu with no
action)
M = Message Base (enter CHATATYA! message base.
this option will only be
displayed if turned on while
running CHATCON.COM)
P = Two-way page (audible page at both host and
remote terminals)
NOTE: It has been found that
some terminal programs will
not echo the page on the remote.
Q = Quit Chatatya! (Exits back to DOS)
S = Status; Host System (Displays some information about
the host system. i.e.: DOS
version, disk space info, etc.)
T = Display current DOS time (Note: hours and minutes
01 through 09 are displayed as
single digits. i.e.: 01 is 1,
etc.)
? = Full Options Menu (Displays the long form of the
Options Menu.)
If the "P" option is selected, CHATATYA! checks it's configurations file
against the current DOS time to determine whether or not a page is allowed.
If pager is off at all times (see CHATCON.COM), the "P" option will not be
displayed under the Options Menu.
If after testing, paging is allowed, you will be prompted for verification
of the page with `Are you sure you want to page? [Y,n]'.
If the "M" option is selected, CHATATYA! checks it's configuration file
to determine whether or not the Message Base will be used. If the Message
Base is turned off, the "M" option will not appear as being a valid option
nor will CHATATYA! execute the Message Base when "M" is pressed.
While in actual chat mode, Chatatya! 1.08d supports word wrap at 79
characters. While in Message Base text-entry mode, no word wrap is
supported. This is to allow easier editing of the message. As is, the
CHATATYA! Message Base text editor is similar to that on AppleNet BBS
software.
Message Base Commands:
---------------------
Once in the Message Base, the available commands are:
D = Delete a Message (Prompts for message name to
delete. Valid message names
are the same as for E)ntering
a message (see below).
Entering qq or QQ aborts
deletion.)
E = Enter a Message (Prompts for message name. Valid
message names are 2 to 8
characters in length and do not
include extensions of any kind. of
Valid Message names can be any
combination of alpha-numeric
characters. Entering qq or QQ
aborts message entry.)
L = List Message Names (Lists all available CHATATYA!
message names. All CHATATYA!
messages reside in the \CHAT
directory.)
R = Read a Message (Prompts for message name to
read. See E)nter Message
(above) for details on valid
message name specifications.
Entering qq or QQ aborts the
Read Message command.)
X = eXit Message Base (Exits the Message Base and
returns to Chat mode. Word
wrap is again supported.)
? = Full Message Base Menu (Displays the long form of the
Message Base Menu.)
Notes about the Message Base:
----------------------------
Yes, the Message Base is a new feature. Therefore, it has room for
improvement. And, in future versions, some changes will more than likely
be made. Mail checking, password protection and privacy are being considered
at this point. We don't think we'll get into threading the messages. After
all, it was born a simple Chat program.
Important: When E)ntering a message, it is important NOT to include an
extension. CHATATYA! automatically appends the extension .CHT to message
files. When L)isting messages, the .CHT extensions will not be displayed.
Also, if a message name already exists, CHATATYA! will NOT allow you to
overwrite the existing message. You must first delete the old message
before entering a new one with the same message name. This is to avoid
having messages accidently overwritten. If a message name IS overwritten,
it is clear that the originator intended to do so.
A special thanks to Stan Mros of PC Concepts, Ltd. for his help
with word wrap routines. Also, thanks to Jim Berg of PC Concepts, Ltd. for
his help with the COM port routines.
CHATATYA! and CHATCON were written in Turbo Pascal by John Parlin and
Dave Hazelton for PC Concepts, Ltd. If you have any suggestions, comments,
problems, etc. that could be helpful please leave a message to the SysOps on
PC Concepts BBS, FidoNet 14/612, at (612) 572-0894 (300/1200/2400,N,8,1).
Your Limited License:
--------------------
CHATATYA! may be freely copied and distributed in its unmodified form.
Modification of CHATATYA! is strictly prohibited.
CHATATYA! may be used on public, private or semi-private Bulletin Board
Systems or other public, private or semi-private communications systems
without express permission from PC Concepts, Ltd.
Commercial use of CHATATYA! must be approved by PC Concepts, Ltd.
If you find this program useful and would like to become a registered user,
please send $15.00 (check or money order) to:
PC Concepts, Ltd.
390-57th Pl. NE. #3,
Fridley, Mn. 55432
John Parlin
Dave Hazelton
Authors; CHATATYA!,
PC Concepts, Ltd.