*** DPNODE 1.5 *** by Detlef Pleiss Internet: det@goliath.de Compuserve: 74101.755 Download and Online Order: Internet: http://dpsoft.powerbbs.com http://www.abacus2.com Compuserve: GO PBBS Online Support Mailing List: to subscribe send a message to majordomo@mail.msen.com with "subscribe dpsoft" in the body (no quotes) ==================================================================== Files included in package: DPNODE.EXE - Standalone EXE, 16 bit DPNODE32.EXE - Standalone EXE, 32 bit DPNOD.DLL - GUI Server DLL, 16 bit DPNOD32.DLL - GUI Server DLL, 32 bit DPNOD2.PA - GUI Client DLL DPNODE.TXT - This File FILE_ID.DIZ - Description for BBS File Lists DPSOFT.TXT - Information about DP Software Products UPGRADE.TXT - Upgrading from earlier Versions ==================================================================== In fact, DPNODE is two packages in one: The standalone EXE, DPNODE.EXE (DPNODE32.EXE for Windows95 / Windows NT), sends a message to all chat rooms whenever someone logs on or logs off. After registering, you can edit the message text and so add a command to play a sound file (/S filename). This way PowerAccess callers will notice logons and logoffs, even if they do not have the chat window open. Additionally DPNODE(32).EXE is a sysop node status utility featuring live display of who is online and node activity. With its Notification List you can manage a list of callers, so DPNode notifies you whenever one of the named callers logs in. Last but not least, DPNODE(32).EXE is the configuration utility, also for the GUI DLL package. The pair of GUI DLLs, DPNOD.DLL (DPNOD32.DLL for 32bit PowerBBS) and DPNOD2.PA, features a live node status display for PA callers. It also offers a notification list, here called "Friends List". DPNode notifies a PA caller whenever someone from his Friends List logs in. By double-clicking a list or node status entry, a PA caller can invite another caller into the chat rooms or to a private chat (Instant Messaging in PA2). You are free to run only one of these packages or both of them, they work independent from each other. (You need to run DPNODE(32).EXE once in order to configure DPNode, the EXE and the GUI DLL package) ==================================================================== Installation If you are upgrading from a previous version, read the file UPGRADE.TXT. Copy DPNODE.EXE to your PowerBBS home directory. In case you're running Windows95 or NT you may want to use DPNODE32.EXE instead. Execute DPNODE(32).EXE and click the "Configuration" button. The "Login User", "Logoff User" and "Invite User" entries can only be edited after you registered DPNode. See "Customization" below for more detail. The "Chat File #1" and "Chat File #2" entries need to point to the same files like the corresponding entries in PowerBBS Config, on the File Locations - Paths 2 tab. The defaults "USERINFO.NET" and "TALKINFO.NET" should be fine for a standard PowerBBS installation. After registering you will receive the "Key" to be entered for your given "BBS Name" and "Sysop Name". You may want to create a link / PIF file pointing to DPNODE(32).EXE in your autostart/startup group/folder. Make sure the working directory points to your PowerBBS home directory. To install the GUI DLL package: If you run the 16 bit version of PowerBBS, copy DPNOD.DLL to your PowerBBS home directory. If you run the 32 bit version of PowerBBS, copy DPNOD32.DLL to your PowerBBS home directory and there rename it to DPNOD.DLL. Copy DPNOD2.PA to your POWRBBS\SOURCE directory. On one of your screens add a button with the command to run DPNOD.DLL. The command reads "O-DPNOD.DLL". ==================================================================== Running the EXE The main part of the DPNODE(32).EXE window is a list box displaying currently online users and their activity. The "Configuration" button brings up the configuration dialog discussed above and also below, at "Customization". The "Notification List" button brings up another window where you configure the list of callers that DPNode should notify you about. You can "Add" entries by typing the user name in the upcoming dialog or delete entries by first selecting them and then pressing the "Delete" button, or by double-clicking their entry in the Notification List or the Node Status window. Double-clicking a line in the Node Status window with a caller who is not yet in the Notification list will add him to the list. DPNode will only notify you of users from the Notification List logging in, if the "Notify me" box is checked. Unchecking the box disables the notification function. When a user from the Notification List logs in, the Notification List window pops up with this users entry selected. Additionally a sound is played. ==================================================================== Running the GUI DLL The main part of the DPNODE GUI DLL window is a list box displaying currently online users and their activity. The "Friends List" button brings up another window where you configure the list of callers that DPNode should notify you about. You can "Add" entries by typing the user name in the upcoming dialog or delete entries by first selecting them and then pressing the "Delete" button. Double-clicking a line in the Node Status display or in the Friends List brings up a dialog where you can either add or delete the user to/from the Friends List. If this user is currently online you can click a button to invite him to the public chat rooms or click a button to invite him to a private chat. For PowerAccess 2.0 users, "Invite to Private Chat" opens an "Instant Messaging" window at the remote end, and also at your end if the caller decides to answer your chat request. If a double-clicked list entry refers to a caller who is not currently online, the "Invite" buttons are disabled. DPNode will only notify you of users from the Friends List logging in, if the "Notify me" box is checked. Unchecking the box disables the notification function. When a user from the Friends List logs in, the Friends List window pops up with this users entry selected. Additionally a sound is played. Checking the "Always on Top" box makes DPNode float above all other windows. Unchecking this box makes it behave like any other program, including the possibility of being covered beneath the PA window. ==================================================================== Customization With the registered version, you can customize the messages DPNODE(32).EXE sends to the chat rooms on caller logon and logff. As PowerAccess replays a WAV sound file when it encounters a "/S filename" command in the active chat room, using such commands in the "Login User" and "Logoff User" configuration entries will result in acoustic signals to PowerAccess callers even if their chat window is minimized. PowerAccess looks for the WAV sounds to replay in its home directory and in the data directory for your BBS. If you choose sound files that are included in the standard PowerAccess distribution (like "/S CONNECT") every PowerAccess caller will get these signals without additional installation. If you choose different sound files it's your caller's choice to install these sound files and thus get acoustic notifications or not. If you prefer the latter you can still automate the process of getting the soundfile to the appropriate directory at the callers side: With PowerGenerator, edit screens that have the signal sound files attached to them. A screen may just contain a text like "You'll hear this whenever someone new logs on!". On some other appropriate screen on your system add a button that points to that screen and reads something like "Click here to download the Logon Notification Sound". When the user clicks that button the notification sound gets downloaded to the appropriate directory at the callers side. The "Invite User" field is to configure the Instant Message that is sent to a PA2 caller, when another caller presses the "Invite to Private Chat" button in the DPNode GUI DLL. ==================================================================== Registration and Disclaimer DPNODE is shareware. It is neither free, nor freeware nor in the public domain. The unregistered version may be distributed freely in its unaltered form. This software is provided as is. Detlef Pleiss disclaims all warranties, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will Detlef Pleiss be liable to you for damages, including any loss of data, profits, lost savings, or other incidental or consequential damages arising out of your use or inability to use the software. Use at your own risk. The text messages can be configured with the registered version only. The unregistered version is restricted to no more than two entries in the Notification List / Friends List. The unregistered version of the GUI DLL will exit after about 5 minutes. These restriction will vanish after applying your registration code to DPNODE. Registration is available via Compuserve GO SWREG. The ID number is 12156. Registration is available online at http://addons.powerbbs.com/pleiss.htm and http://www.abacus2.com Registration fee is $20. After registering you'll receive a registration code that is valid for your name and your BBS's name. For a quick response together with your registration send Compuserve mail to 74101.755 stating which program you registered, your name and your BBS's name. This information will be needed. Registration can not be transferred. If either name or BBS name change a new registration is required. ==================================================================== History of DPNODE: v 1.0 - released: Jul 7 1996 first public release v 1.1 - released: Jul 16 1996 added 32bit executable added GUI DLL v 1.2 - released: Jul 20 1996 added 32bit GUI DLL v 1.3 - released: Sep 14 1996 completely new GUI DLL v 1.4 - released: Nov 29 1997 completely rewritten completely new GUI interface for the sysop and for PA callers added GUI configuration dialog added sysop node status display added logoff notification chat room message made logon and logoff chat room messages optional added Notification List for sysop and added Friends List for PA callers added invitation to private chat (Instant Messaging) for PA calles v 1.5 - released: Mar 13 1998 no longer displays "Running Event"s