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1996-07-10
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Welcome to PATCHAT Version 1.0! This is a FREEWARE program.
(C)opyright 1995 by Patrick Harvey
Please send inquiries to:
Patrick Harvey
710 Peachtree ST NE 430
Atlanta, GA 30308
or
MRGALAXY@AOL.COM
or
Call The Stupid Computer BBS at 404-876-0422.
WHAT IS PATCHAT?!
PATCHAT is a program which allows a user to chat with another user over
a Novell or other network without having to go out and buy expensive software.
PATCHAT is ideal for those constantly on the phone who still need to get
messages through to another person. PATCHAT allows messages that are a full
80 characters across and even several lines long... Also, once a chat
session has been established with another user, you can "PATCHAT" back and
forth all day without having to re-type the user's name you are
communicating with as you would need to do when sending SEND messages.
INSTALLATION
All of PATCHAT's files should be copied into a directory of your choosing.
This directory should only contain PATCHAT files. These files are:
PATCHAT.EXE, PATCHAT.DOC, CLEANIT.EXE and PHCONFIG.DAT.
Before trying to run PATCHAT, you will need to choose or create a directory
on your network which is accessible to both users. Both users also need
to have the appropriate network rights for that directory. Each user MUST
be able to create files, erase files, scan files etc... It is recommended
that this directory not contain any other non-PATCHAT programs or files.
In fact, this directory should be empty before starting PATCHAT.
In this example case, let's assume that we have created a directory called
N:\PATCHAT
In order for PATCHAT to function, a three line configuration file called
PHCONFIG.DAT must be created in the directory you are running PATCHAT from
on your local drive. If I am running PATCHAT from a C:\PATCHAT directory,
then PATCHAT.EXE, CLEANIT.EXE and PHCONFIG.DAT all must be in this directory.
The first line in the PHCONFIG.DAT file must contain the correct path to
the directory on the network where you and the other user will share files.
In this example case, the first line would say:
N:\PATCHAT
The second line of the PHCONFIG.DAT file contains YOUR first name. This will
help identify you to the other user. This name should be the same as your
Novell SEND name if you are on a Novell network or can simply be your
real first name if on some other type of network. This name should contain
at least 4 characters.
The third line needs to contain the word YES or NO. This tells the program
if you are on a NOVELL network or not. If you answer YES, then the program
will send a SEND bleep to the other user when you request a chat with him
and will send another SEND bleep to that person when you exit out of a chat
session. Those not wishing to use this feature may answer NO on this line
whether they use a Novell network or not.
RUNNING THE PROGRAM
While in the directory where your PATCHAT files are stored, type PATCHAT
to begin the program. If you have not changed your PHCONFIG.DAT from its
default, an error message will appear instructing you to read these
instructions. The message will also tell you to edit the PHCONFIG.DAT file.
If the PHCONFIG.DAT file is set up correctly, the program will execute. You
will be asked to enter the user's name to communicate with. If you are on
a Novell network and have the third line in your PHCONFIG.DAT set to YES,
a SEND bleep will be sent to the other user telling him that you are
requesting a chat session. Later, when exiting the program, a SEND bleep
will be sent to that user informing him that you are exiting the chat
session. That is why it is IMPORTANT that if you are on a Novell network,
you should enter the other person's name with the same name as they use
for SEND messages!!
After you type in the name of the person you wish to PATCHAT with, PATCHAT
will check to see if someone is already speaking to that person. If the
program finds that someone else is already PATCHATing with that person, a
message will appear informing the third party that the person is in another
chat session and cannot be disturbed. If you know for a fact that the
person in question is NOT PATCHATing, then you may wish to run the CLEANIT
utility. The CLEANIT utility will delete all the files without extensions
in the network directory where you are sharing files. Occassionally, should
a person's PC freeze up while in a chat session, certain files may be left
in the network directory which could make PATCHAT believe that that person
is still chatting with another user. CLEANIT allows you to quickly
delete any files in that network directory which would be causing this
problem. MAKE SURE NO ONE IS PATCHATing when you run CLEANIT. CLEANIT
MUST be run from the local PATCHAT directory because it also uses the
PHCONFIG.DAT file to determine where to clean.
Assuming all conditions are correct for beginning a chat session, you
will now be taken into a chat screen. You may see a FILE NOT FOUND message
appear for just a moment on this screen. Ignore the message if you see it.
You are now ready to chat with the other user. PATCHAT will send a line
or lines whenever YOU as the user hit ENTER. So, if you want to send a
2-line message, type in your 2 lines WITHOUT hitting ENTER between the two
lines. Once your two lines have been typed in, press ENTER to send your
lines. It takes approximately 2 seconds to send a message. Don't send
additional lines for at least 2-3 seconds or the user may miss the first
line sent. This delay is hard coded into the program to prevent sharing
violations.
Once your line or lines have been transmitted, these lines will disappear
off your screen. Up to six lines at once may be sent. The user will
receive your lines 2 seconds later.
If you decide you want to run PATCHAT all day and want to run it in the
background, it MUST be running in an operating system which allows true
multitasking. See the information later in this document for doing this.
When you are ready to exit a chat session, simply hit the "|" character.
The program will exit. If you are on a Novell network, a SEND bleep
will be sent to the user you had been PATCHATing with informing them
that you are no longer PATCHATing with them.
TIPS/TRICKS/MULTITASKING:
In order for PATCHAT to work correctly, it should be run in the foreground
as the main program being run or it may be used on a system which allows true
multitasking. If you are running this program in Windows 95, you may
either set up a shortcut for it or you may run it from a DOS box; HOWEVER,
the properties MUST be set up correctly. Make sure the BACKGROUND button
in the task bar of the DOS window is set to on. Also, edit the properties
of the window or shortcut as follows: In the properties section, click
on the tab called PROGRAM. Click on CLOSE ON EXIT. Click on ADVANCED.
Click on :
Prevent MS-DOS-based programs from detecting Windows
and
Suggest MS-DOS mode as necessary
BOTH should be selected!!
When entering text to be sent to another user, the backspace key is the only
supported method of editing the text about to be sent.
On the technical side, it may be important to understand how PATCHAT uses
names to send messages to other users. When you specify a user name to
PATCHAT with, message files are created in a file named using the first
four characters of that person's name. Therefore, if two people have similar
names (where the first four characters are the same), PATCHAT may indicate
to a third party that that person is already PATCHATing when really a
person with a similar name is already PATCHATing with someone else.
LEGAL STUFF
You agree to use this program AT YOUR OWN RISK. You agree to accept this
program in an as-is condition and agree that you will not hold the writer
or distributor of this program responsible for any time or money lost,
or any type of damage caused by using or running this program. YOU take
all responsibility for any problems caused by this program's execution.
Since this program will be in the public doman, we cannot be responsible
for what others do to it.
Try our other fine programs:
ANSICHK9.ZIP, SFCOMBO.ZIP, MRMENU2.ZIP, MRSAFE.ZIP. NAMEZAP.ZIP, PSYCHEK2.ZIP,
LOOKSEE2.ZIP.