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MultiChat 1.00Γ RA Split-Screen Multi-Node Chat System USER MANUAL
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MultiChat 1.00Γ
(c) 1991-92, YossiWare Developments.
All Rights Reserved.
MultiChat 1.00Γ RA Split-Screen Multi-Node Chat System USER MANUAL
OVERVIEW
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
MultiChat is a split-screen multi-line online chat system for
the RemoteAccess based BBS. It works as a keyboard to keyboard
chat, works very fast, and supports up to 4 nodes simultaneously.
Using its powerful configuration, you can define almost anything
concerning MultiChat. You can set it to inform about incoming
online messages, the moment they arrive, or have it ignore them.
You can give your users unlimited time to be on MultiChat, or
instruct MultiChat to check their time-limit, and quit when it
exceeds. You can instruct MultiChat how many windows to draw on
the screen, so you won't have wasted space on the screen. In
addition, you can even set all colors MultiChat uses.
For the users themselves, MultiChat is even more friendly. Each
user writes in a separate window, and many users can write
simultaneously, without having any conflict. All windows have
both automatic word-wrapping, and line scrolling, which makes
writing much easier.
In addition, MultiChat offers many other handy features. Users
can list all users that are online, on all lines, no matter what
they are doing. The users can also send online messages to any
user on any line, as well as receive online messages that are
waiting.
MultiChat is also capable of letting one user "whisper" to
another, while all other users will not even be able to know the
user whispered anything, and of course, without any other user
actually see the whisper. Users are also capable of clearing
their chat-window, redrawing the screen (in case of noise on the
line), being informed of the exact time left they have, and more.
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MultiChat 1.00Γ RA Split-Screen Multi-Node Chat System USER MANUAL
LICENSING AND SHAREWARE INFORMATION
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
MultiChat (or MCHAT) refers to all files included with the
original distribution archive, all executables, documentation,
and other files.
You may use MultiChat for 21 days on a trial basis, in order to
determine its suitability for your system. After this trial
period, you must register MultiChat.
During the trial period, MultiChat will remind you and your
users that it isn't registered yet. It will also limit the chat
session to 10 minutes, and return the user to RA after 10
minutes.
Registration entitles you to use MultiChat 1.00Γ and any future
versions of it for as long as you wish, subject to any special
licensing conditions attached to future versions. For more
details, refer to the registration form, which is a part of the
distribution archive.
You may not modify, or reverse-engineer MultiChat, MCBuffer, or
any other executable which is part of MultiChat 1.00Γ.
You are encouraged to distribute MultiChat provided that no fee
is charged for its distribution, and that the distribution
archive is not modified in any way. Pay Bulletin Board Systems
may however charge their normal fee provided that no additional
charge for MChat is levied.
The author will not be held liable to you or anyone for any
direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages, including
any lost profits, lost savings, which may result from the use or
inability to use MultiChat.
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MultiChat 1.00Γ RA Split-Screen Multi-Node Chat System USER MANUAL
INSTALLATION
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
MultiChat can run on 80286, 386(sx/dx) and 486(sx/dx) machine. It
requires DOS 3.1 or better, and a FOSSIL driver. It was tested
under both Ray Gwinn's X00, and David Nugent's BNU, and seems to
work under both.
MultiChat installation consists of a few parts. Even if you are
already very experienced with this kind of software, please take
your time, and briefly browse the steps below, in order to
prevent inconvenient for both you and us.
1. Extract all executables from original distribution archive
to your main RA directory. You should have the following
files:
MCHAT.EXE Main Executable, MultiChat itself.
MCBUFFER.EXE The memory buffer handler.
MCCONFIG.EXE The configuration file.
2. In order to let all copies of MultiChat, that are running
simultaneously in several different tasks (though, from one
single EXE file on disk), transfer information between
themselves, you need to load MCBuffer, the memory buffer
manager, BEFORE YOUR MULTITASKER.
MCBuffer is a resident program, that occupies around 1.8Kb of
memory. You should load it from the AUTOEXEC.BAT file,
before loading the MultiTasker. Loading it from within the
MultiTasker itself will be ineffective.
If you are using QEMM-386, MS-DOS 5.00, DR-DOS 6.00, or any
other program that allows you to load TSRs to "high memory",
you may do so. MCBuffer can be loaded-high, in order to save
precious conventional memory, without any problem.
3. Run MCConfig, the setup utility. It's very simple to use, and
very friendly, but for making everything clear, it will be
described here in details.
- INFO ABOUT BBS
- BBS Name
Put your BBS name in here. Note that this field is used to
generate your personal registration key. When you specify on
your registration form "BBS Name", you should put it here
exactly as you have done in the form itself.
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MultiChat 1.00Γ RA Split-Screen Multi-Node Chat System USER MANUAL
- Sysop
Put your name in here. Note that this field is used to
generate your personal registration key. When you specify on
your registration form "Sysop Name", you should put it here
exactly as you have done in the form itself.
- Ad-Line
This is an advertisement line, for your BBS. You may put in
here what ever you want. It will be displayed, on registered
MultiChat, when MultiChat is firing up.
- Semaphore
This is the directory where all RA online messages are
stored. It is highly important to configure it the same way
as in RACONFIG's Semaphore Directory.
- RA Dir
This is the main RemoteAccess directory. In this directory,
MultiChat should be able to find USERON.BBS, and in this
directory it will place its own USERON.MC.
- Lines
This field instructs MultiChat how many lines your BBS have.
By this number, MultiChat knows how many windows it should
draw. It is also used when "filling lines". For example,
when the USERON.BBS contains information about only 2 lines,
and you specify your BBS is a 3 lines system, MultiChat will
add by itself the 3rd line, and mark it as "empty".
- RA Version
This is the toggle between RA 1.0x (1.00, 1.01) and 1.1x
(1.10, 1.11). There were some major changes between these
two versions, including the change in the name of the files
containing online messages, and the structure of USERON.BBS.
- 5 -
MultiChat 1.00Γ RA Split-Screen Multi-Node Chat System USER MANUAL
- MCHAT FEATURES
- Time {+} Registered Only Feature
This switch instructs MultiChat how to treat the user's time
limit. If you set it to Limited, MultiChat will honor the
time-limit as passed from RA - It will warn the user 2
minutes before the time limit exceeds, and will return to
RemoteAccess when it eventually exceeds.
If you set it to Unlimited, MultiChat will let users use
MultiChat as long as they wish.
In unregistered versions of MultiChat, time is limited to 10
minutes. After it exceeds, the user is returning to RA - and
can enter MultiChat again.
NOTE: If you set the Time flag to UNLIMITED, MultiChat will
let the user stay as long as he wish, but will not freeze the
timer. If the user had 5 minutes left, and spent 10 minutes
in MultiChat, when he is back in RA, RA will throw him, with
a time-limit-exceeded message. If you wish to "freeze" the
time when chatting in MultiChat, use the "*!" command line
parameter (in RA's menu), which will instruct RA to freeze
the timer. Refer to your RA Manual for more information.
- Online Msg
This switch instructs MultiChat how to treat incoming online
messages. If you set it to Inform, MultiChat will let the
user know whenever an online message arrives. Otherwise,
MultiChat will not check for online messages, and will not
inform the user when they arrive.
- WINDOW COLORS
This menu lets you change all default colors MultiChat uses.
It is self-explanatory.
- 6 -
MultiChat 1.00Γ RA Split-Screen Multi-Node Chat System USER MANUAL
4. MultiChat needs to access the configuration file, MCHAT.CFG,
every time you load it. It will look for it in the following
places, in the following order:
The PATH environment variable. If MCHAT.CFG is found on any
of the directories which PATH points to, MChat will read it.
The MCHAT environment variable. This variable is the exact
name of MCHAT.CFG, and not only directory, i.e.
C:\RA\MCHAT.CFG, and not C:\RA.
Current directory.
The best way to handle this is using the environment
variable MCHAT. Simply add to your AUTOEXEC.BAT the command
SET MCHAT=C:\RA\MCHAT.CFG
(Or the full name for MCHAT.CFG, that matches your system).
It is highly recommended to have only one and single
MCHAT.CFG, and let all lines use it.
5. Add MultiChat to your RA menus. Calling MultiChat is done
exactly as calling any other door, using the "Execute
Sub-Program" Command, Type 7. As every line has its own
directory, inside of the main RA directory, and since
MCHAT.EXE is located on the main RA directory, you should
call it with the full pathname.
MultiChat requires one command-line parameter, which is the
line number. In order to instruct RA to put line number on
the command-line, you should use the *N.
For Example: D:\RA\MCHAT.EXE *N
If you have set MultiChat to give unlimited time to users,
and want RA to freeze the timer when the users are in
MultiChat, add *! as well.
For Example: D:\RA\MCHAT.EXE *N *!
- 7 -
MultiChat 1.00Γ RA Split-Screen Multi-Node Chat System USER MANUAL
ONLINE OPERATION
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This section discusses the way MultiChat operates. It can help
you, the Sysop, understanding what exactly you can expect from
MultiChat, and may help you writing a short text for the users,
about using MultiChat.
Normally, MultiChat would display several windows, according to
the number of nodes you have defined. Nodes that are already in
MultiChat will have the user name, as a header, on top of the
window.
MultiChat is working as a keyboard to keyboard chat, and every
key that one user presses, all other users receive,
simultaneously. In fact, the technique of using windows allows
many users to write at the same time, while nobody will get
confused.
When a user joins MultiChat, a message on buttom of screen is
displayed, together with a beep (which is sent to remote only),
to all other currently-active nodes.
When a user is leaving MultiChat (aborting, exceeding
time-limit, disconnecting, or exiting due to an error), the
appropriate window is cleared, and the name is erased from the
header. Also, a message (and a beep on remote) is displayed on
buttom of screen, saying the user has left.
Also, the following keys are available for users:
- Ctrl-I Help (Information) Screen
This is the only command-key that is mentioned on the buttom
line, besides [ESC]. Users that are not familiar with MultiChat,
can use it to display a help-window, with all command-keys
MultiChat accepts.
- Ctrl-W Turn Whisper Mode On/Off
When pressed on first time, MultiChat will turn whisper mode on.
It will prompt for node-number to whisper to. Pressing [ENTER]
will abort the operation. Pressing a node-number (no need to
press [ENTER] afterwards) will turn whisper mode to a certain
node on.
- 8 -
MultiChat 1.00Γ RA Split-Screen Multi-Node Chat System USER MANUAL
The whispered node will be informed that the whispering node is
whispering to it. While you are in whisper mode, everything you
type is going ONLY to the node you whisper to. The buttom line
specifies that you are whispering, and instructs you to press
Ctrl-W again to stop whispering.
Once you stop whispering, the whispered node is informed you
have stopped whispering, and everything you type from now on is
going to all nodes.
- Ctrl-L Clear your chat window
This key will cause the node's window to be cleared. The
window-clearing will occur on all copies MultiChat that are
running, on all tasks. It can be used when there is a lot of
text in the window, and the built-in line-scrolling of MultiChat
seems too slow (well, modems usually aren't so fast !).
- Ctrl-O List all online users
This option is very similar to RA's built-in Who's Online
option. It will list all users that are online on all BBS lines,
using the information RA stores in USERON.BBS.
Note that if USERON.BBS contains information for only 2 nodes,
while you have set MultiChat to work as 3-lines system, it will
add the 3rd line, as an empty line (no user online).
- Ctrl-R Redraw screen
For non-MNP users, this option is a must. It will rebuild the
screen, in case of line-noise (or any other cause).
- Ctrl-T Time left information
Using this key, the users can get informed how much time they
have left. When pressing Ctrl-T, the number of minutes left
until time limit exceeds will be displayed on buttom line. In
case Time is set to Unlimited, MultiChat will write that no time
limit is in use.
- 9 -
MultiChat 1.00Γ RA Split-Screen Multi-Node Chat System USER MANUAL
- Ctrl-P Page online user (Send online message)
This option is very similar to the one provided internally by RA
itself, send online message. You may send online messages to any
user who is on any line, including to users that are already
participating in a chat on MultiChat.
MultiChat will first prompt for line number to address the
message. Plain [ENTER] will abort the message.
After typing the line number, MultiChat will prompt for the
message text itself. The message can be up to 70 characters
long, and is limited to one line.
- Ctrl-G Get waiting online messages
This option is used to receive online messages that are waiting
to that specific node. If no messages are waiting, MultiChat
will display on the buttom line that no messages are waiting,
and will ignore the request.
If messages ARE waiting, MultiChat will clear the screen, and
show the messages by the order of arrival.
MultiChat can parse and show messages generated internally by
RemoteAccess 1.0x, 1.1x, all external doors that are capable of
sending online messages, and MultiChat itself. MultiChat also
allows ANSI sequences in messages, and shows them very well.
- [ESC] Return to RemoteAccess
Pressing [ESC] will cause MultiChat return to RemoteAccess.
NOTE: MultiChat can differ between a plain [ESC] and an [ESC]
which is part of an ANSI sequence. If the user pressed
[Cursor-Up], and the ANSI terminal sent the ANSI sequence for
Cursor-Up, which begins with [ESC], MultiChat will recognize it,
and will not exit.
- 10 -
MultiChat 1.00Γ RA Split-Screen Multi-Node Chat System USER MANUAL
SECURITY AND SAFETY MEANS
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
MultiChat is incorporating all security means offered to Sysops
by the RemoteAccess BBS package, and with correct installation,
is an integrated part of it.
MultiChat is completely protected against attempts to hack
through it, to access restricted parts of the BBS, or to access
remote DOS-Shell.
Furthermore, MultiChat is capable of dealing with irregular or
delicate cases, like sudden loss of carrier, time-limit exceeds,
fatal errors, etc.
MultiChat was tested on 80286, 80386sx, 80386dx and 80486dx
Microprocessors. It was tested under DESQview 2.26 to 2.42, and
QEMM-386 5.12 to 6.02 (Including it stealth technology). It was
tested under MS-DOS 3.30 and 5.00 (Also loaded-high), and under
4DOS 3.02 to 4.00 (Including revision B1). It was, also, tested
on HyperDisk 4.21 to 4.31 (SHAREWARE). No problems occurred
during any of these tests.
- 11 -
MultiChat 1.00Γ RA Split-Screen Multi-Node Chat System USER MANUAL
TECHNICAL NOTES
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
* MultiChat is written with the help of Turbo Pascal 6, Turbo
Assembler 3.00 and Turbo Debugger 3.00.
* MCBuffer is written completely in 80286 Assembly, and is
hooking to interrupt 60h in order to be accessed from all
tasks.
* MultiChat is using the FOSSIL driver for all I/O with the
serial port, and for displaying ANSI on the local screen. When
running DESQview, DVANSI or other compatible ANSI driver is
required.
* MultiChat is reading the user information from RemoteAccess
through the DORINFO1.DEF file.
* All programs are writing directly to screen, or to DESQview,
video buffer, if found. On CGA screens, snow-checking is used
to prevent "snow".
- 12 -
MultiChat 1.00Γ RA Split-Screen Multi-Node Chat System USER MANUAL
TRADEMARKS
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
All brand and product names used in this document are either
Copyrighted, Trademarks or Registered Trademarks of their
respective holders:
MultiChat (MCHAT) YossiWare Developments
Turbo Pascal,
Turbo Assembler,
Turbo Debugger Borland International, Inc.
RemoteAccess (RA) Continental Software, Inc.
DESQview,
QEMM-386 Quarterdeck Office Systems, Inc.
MS-DOS Microsoft Corporation
DR-DOS Digital Research
BNU David Nugent & Unique Computing Pty Ltd
X00 Raymond L. Gwinn
- 13 -
MultiChat 1.00Γ RA Split-Screen Multi-Node Chat System USER MANUAL
CREDITS & SUPPORT
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Just before ending, I would like to thank to the support, beta
and distribution sites, for testing, suggesting, and doing
(hopefully) whatever they can to help MultiChat. Thanks !
YossiWare Beta & Support sites:
- Europe (Israel)
The Black Universe BBS, 2:403/139 @ Fidonet
+972-3-9665202, 14.4k v.32bis, 24 Hours
+972-3-9665257, 2400 MNP5, 24 Hours
+972-3-9673803, 2400 MNP5, 24 Hours
Sysop: Saar Blitz
Triple D BBS, 2:403/123 @ Fidonet
+972-8-476549, 14.4k HST/v.32bis/v.42bis, 24 Hours
Sysop: Roy Udassin
- USA
Amber Shadow BBS, 1:203/988 @ Fidonet, 50:5010/988 @ Echonet
+1-916-742-5501, 14.4k HST/v.32bis/v.42bis, 24 Hours
Sysop: Dave Overton
* Latest MultiChat can always be File-Requested (using
Bark/WaZOO methods) from all support nodes, under the magic
name MCHAT.
* Contacting me can be done by:
From Fidonet: Yossi Gottlieb, 2:403/139.75
RA_UTIL, Intl. Echomail.
From Internet: Yossi.Gottlieb@p75.f139.n403.z2.fidonet.org
Snail Mail:
Yossi Gottlieb,
YossiWare Developments,
11 Armonim St.,
Ramat Gan, 52587,
ISRAEL.
- 14 -