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CHATTER.DOC
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1988-01-27
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9KB
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225 lines
3 files are included in this ARC file:
CHATTER.DOC - All beta test documentation (this file)
CHAT.EXE - Main program file (Version 1.1 compiled 01/27/87)
READ.ME - Current information about CHATTER
Please read the documentation carefully before installing CHATTER
on your system.
CHATTER is a Novell network utility that allows users to
communicate in real time, across the network, without using the
Novell SEND command for sending each line of real time text.
INSTALLATION NOTES:
-------------------
1) CHAT.EXE should be installed as one of two files in a
directory called CHAT. The Novell SEND program (SEND.COM) is
the other file that needs to be present in the CHAT
directory. If you are a registered Novell user you will have
a copy of SEND.COM. SEND.COM is not necessary, but is needed
if you want to notify the other user that you want to CHAT.
Use the DOS COPY command to install CHAT.EXE and SEND.COM
into the CHAT directory.
2) All users should be assigned Read/Write/Create/Delete
privileges in the CHAT directory.
3) To run CHATTER both users MUST be in the CHAT
directory, then type the command shown below.
CHAT <your login id> <login id of other user> [ENTER]
Example: F:\CHAT> CHAT KEVIN JOHN [ENTER]
The command above is what Kevin would type to setup CHAT
communications between KEVIN and JOHN. John would also have to
type the following command to confirm that he is ready to CHAT
with Kevin.
If you type CHAT [ENTER], the program will still run, it will
just prompt you for your login id and the login id of the user
you want to chat with.
Example: F:\CHAT> CHAT JOHN KEVIN [ENTER]
or F:\CHAT> CHAT [ENTER]
If you use the Novell menu utilities it is simple to implement
CHATTER into your system menu. (Refer to Novell Menu Utility
Manual). I prefer a simple DOS batch file titled CHAT.BAT (see
top of next page) which is stored in the users SEARCH directory.
F:
CD \CHAT
CHATTER %1 %2
MENU
ASSUMPTIONS:
------------
1) CHAT.EXE and SEND.COM are flagged as shareable/read/write.
2) SYSTIME was executed in the login scripts to align
all workstation clocks. (not necessary, but recommended)
GENERAL USAGE NOTES:
--------------------
1) Once inside the CHAT utility the user will be notified when
the other user joins CHAT. You do not have to wait until
they arrive in CHAT to send them information. The text you
type will be saved until the other user joins the CHAT mode.
If the user fails to join the CHAT mode, before you exit the
CHAT mode, the information that was stored will be deleted.
2) Each line of text is sent after the user pushes ENTER. If you
receive a line of text while you are typing, your text will
be moved to the next line, and the received text will be
placed above it.
3) A file will be created called CHAT.LOG this will contain the
names of users who are currently CHATTING. When a user
exits chat they are removed from CHAT.LOG (currently being
implemented).
RESTRICTIONS:
-------------
1) There can be multiple CHAT sessions going on at one time, but
no more that two users in each CHAT session. The official
release of CHATTER will allow more than 2 persons per CHAT
session.
2) If two users use the same login id, CHATTER will not allow
the second to CHAT. This can not occur if users use their
Novell login id's. (Currently being implemented)
3) If you have multiple servers, users must be ATTACHED to the
same server that has the CHAT directory.
ADDITIONAL BETA TEST NOTES:
---------------------------
If you are familiar with the CHAT mode of PC Board BBS's, you
will find that this utility is very similar.
CHATTER is still in the beta test version. I have used it for
the past several weeks on the network that I administer at work,
which is configured as follows:
Novell Netware 286 Version 2.0
Compaq 386 Model 130 (2.5 Meg of memory) as file server
Proteon Pronet-10 Network boards, Star Topology (twisted pair)
25 assorted PC's as workstations (DOS 3.2)
I am particularly interested in how fast it operates when used on
a configuration different than the one above, which use high
speed Proteon boards and caches a significant amount of data in
the file servers memory.
I have had no problems with CHATTER to date. But as with all
software, you are using it at your own risk. I can not be held
liable for any damages that might occur to your network, or
workstations, through the use of CHATTER.
To reduce the chances of problems, follow the CHATTER
installation procedures listed above. Over 5000 lines of text
have been transmitted through CHATTER (at the office I work) with
0 network failures and 0 workstation lockups. (Although these
statistics may not reflect how CHATTER will operate on your
system)
DISCLAIMER:
-----------
This utility is distributed as is and no warranty of any kind is
provided as to the fitness for any specific application. No
warranty, whether express or implied, shall apply with the use of
this product. In no event will The Cumberland Group or Kevin
Fisher be liable to the user of CHATTER for any incidental or
consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to use
the CHATTER utility. You are using CHATTER at your own risk.
SHAREWARE:
----------
When completed, CHATTER will be released under the shareware
concept. If you find the beta test version useful, and want to
receive the official release with printed documentation (expected
around Dec. 20, 1987). A contribution of $30 is suggested.
Check should be made payable to: Kevin Fisher
The Cumberland Group (TCG)
32 Woodhaven Way
Sicklerville, NJ 08081
(Home) 609-728-7827
Compuserve Id# 70407,441
or a message on
CompuData BBS 609-232-1245
FINAL COMMENTS:
---------------
I appreciate your help in testing CHATTER and encourage any input
about, or criticisms of, this utility.
This is a beta test version of CHATTER. It was released to be
tested by a few networks. As you can tell from the documentation,
I am still implementing several useful and needed features. When
CHATTER is completed and working to my expectations, I am
planning on releasing it into shareware.
The methods and programming logic used in developing this utility
were quite simple. It does not use any unique network or DOS
function calls. CHATTER simply checks the server for any new text
every couple of seconds. It relies on the speed of C, and the
fact that the network caches recent files in server memory, for
its quick response. Because of this method of checking the
server, too many multiple CHAT sessions can cause a degradation
in the speed of the network.(as will any network intensive
program) We have had eight users chatting simultaneously on the
network configuration listed in the ADDITIONAL BETA TEST NOTES,
with no noticeable degradation of speed on the network.
(Although this statistic may not reflect how CHATTER will operate
on your system) I find CHATTER infinitely better than having to
use the Novell SEND command to send every line of real time text,
and better than Electronic Mail if you want a quick real time
response.
The official release of this product will support a few
additional features not included in the Beta Test version (see
below):
1) Support for more than 2 users per CHAT session
2) Increase security (making CHATs more private)
3) Storage of messages until user arrives in CHAT
CHATTER does not have all the bells and whistles that I would
like it to have (yet), but it does get the job done, at minimal
suggested cost. (under the shareware concept)