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Text File  |  1994-03-04  |  8KB  |  106 lines
  1.         PCBoard SPLIT SCREEN Sysop-Chat Caller-Page Comparison Guide
  2.  
  3.       ChatBox (C) Copyright 1991-1994  Yandell Computer Services (YCS)
  4.  
  5. Recently some PCBoard utilities have appeared professing to be  split screen
  6. replacements for PCBoard's built-in chat.  YCS encourages PCBoard Sysops  to
  7. evaluate  them (only if their origin is known) along with  ChatBox.  Compare
  8. them  with ChatBox from YCS using the guide below.  ChatBox is the  original
  9. split screen chat, as seen in the YCS PCBOARD ACCESSORY advertisement in the
  10. PCBoard newsletter from Clark Development Co. and in the YCS fliers enclosed
  11. with PCBoard.  Do not be confused by programs claiming similar functionality
  12. or named similarly to the original utility, "ChatBox".
  13.  
  14. Answer these questions about any SPLIT SCREEN chat you are evaluating/using.
  15. If you are using ChatBox, the answers to all of these questions will be YES!
  16.  
  17. Does your split screen chat utility offer:
  18.  
  19. GENERAL:                                                              |Yes| No|
  20. --------                                                              |---|---|
  21. A guarantee?                                                          |   |   |
  22.                                                                       |---|---|
  23. Functionality as BOTH an F10 chat replacement and (O)perator page?    |   |   |
  24.                  ----                                                 |---|---|
  25.  
  26. CHATTING:                                                             |Yes| No|
  27. ---------                                                             |---|---|
  28. Chat time credit (restores time left after chat like PCBoard's chat)? |   |   |
  29.                                                                       |---|---|
  30. Choice of vertical or horizontal screen partitioning?                 |   |   |
  31.                                                                       |---|---|
  32. The ability to view the caller's USERS record while chatting?         |   |   |
  33.                                                                       |---|---|
  34. The ability to modify the caller's USERS record while chatting?       |   |   |
  35.                                                                       |---|---|
  36. Importing of text files to display to the caller while chatting?      |   |   |
  37.                                                                       |---|---|
  38. Optional logging to disk file of the conversation?                    |   |   |
  39.                                                                       |---|---|
  40. The ability for either party to clear the incoming chat window?       |   |   |
  41.                                                                       |---|---|
  42. Window scrolling for a nice effect with callers at high speeds?       |   |   |
  43.                                                                       |---|---|
  44. Window wrapping (without window clearing) for callers at low speeds?  |   |   |
  45.                                                                       |---|---|
  46. Detection of non-ANSI callers for normal non-split screen chat mode?  |   |   |
  47.                                                                       |---|---|
  48. Configurable Sysop name to display to the caller during chat?         |   |   |
  49.                                                                       |---|---|
  50. Allows time-left to go negative (like PCB) without logging user off?  |   |   |
  51.                                                                       |---|---|
  52. Customization of prompts?                                             |   |   |
  53.                                                                       |---|---|
  54. Customization of split screen chat colors?                            |   |   |
  55.                                                                       |---|---|
  56. Configurable "pointer" character for current chat-line position?      |   |   |
  57.                                                                       |---|---|
  58.  
  59. PAGING:                                                               |Yes| No|
  60. -------                                                               |---|---|
  61. Optionally asks the caller their 'reason' for paging?                 |   |   |
  62.                                                                       |---|---|
  63. Three different paging time periods for each day of the week?         |   |   |
  64.                                                                       |---|---|
  65. A configurable paging sound for each paging period?                   |   |   |
  66.                                                                       |---|---|
  67. Choice of many different built-in paging sounds?                      |   |   |
  68.                                                                       |---|---|
  69. Customizable paging sound in addition to the built-in ones?           |   |   |
  70.                                                                       |---|---|
  71. Choice of a silent page via a flashing screen?                        |   |   |
  72.                                                                       |---|---|
  73. Log the 'reason' for paging to the CALLER file?                       |   |   |
  74.                                                                       |---|---|
  75. Configurability of the number of seconds a page attempt lasts?        |   |   |
  76.                                                                       |---|---|
  77. The ability to silence a page attempt without answering it?           |   |   |
  78.                                                                       |---|---|
  79. A list of important caller names who can page anytime?                |   |   |
  80.                                                                       |---|---|
  81. A list of caller names who can never page?                            |   |   |
  82.                                                                       |---|---|
  83. A configurable list of days (holidays, etc.) paging is not allowed?   |   |   |
  84.                                                                       |---|---|
  85. Customizable text file to display if page attempted outside of hours? |   |   |
  86.                                                                       |---|---|
  87. Customizable text file to display if a page attempt is unanswered?    |   |   |
  88.                                                                       |---|---|
  89.  
  90. SUPPORT:                                                              |Yes| No|
  91. --------                                                              |---|---|
  92. Voice support for assistance with the program?                        |   |   |
  93.                                                                       |---|---|
  94. A support conference on Salt Air (home of PCBoard) for the program?   |   |   |
  95.                                                                       |---|---|
  96. Echo mail (RIME, ILink, Intelec) support for the program?             |   |   |
  97.                                                                       |---|---|
  98. A comprehensive, detailed manual?                                     |   |   |
  99.                                                                       |---|---|
  100. An installation program?                                              |   |   |
  101.                                                                       |---|---|
  102. Over six years of door programming experience behind the program?     |   |   |
  103.                                                                       |---|---|
  104.  
  105.  
  106.