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OS/2 Help File | 1997-05-18 | 67.0 KB | 1,663 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. What is NetChat? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ NetChat for OS/2 Copyright (c) 1997 by Gary L. Robinson NetChat for OS/2 is a small and fast personal communication tool for OS/2. It is designed to hook two people up directly (without using the IRC channels, servers, IP servers, etc.) for a one-on-one personal text mode chat. NetChat for OS/2 utilizes a "Hailing feature" to accomplish this. The hailing feature uses a built in seamless e-mail facility to send your current IP address to another NetChat user in a specially coded e-mail letter. The other user (who is checked into the net and has NetChat running in Monitor ON mode) will receive the message and prompt him to connect or not connect. The NetChat Monitor ON mode checks your mail box (at user set intervals) for NetChat Hailing messages. If it detects a NetChat hailing message(s) it downloads them, deletes them from the server, and prompts you to see if you want to attempt a connection. If you decline to connect at that time NetChat will save the hailing message(s) in Hail log. The Hail log can also be used to make connections - assuming the message is not so old that the person hasn't logged off the internet, turned off NetChat, or logged off and back on with a new IP address. Once NetChat gets an IP address from the NetChat Hailing message it can then directly connect you with the other party. The ONLY use of the e-mail system is to initially exchange an IP address. One button Hailing makes it a simple and painless way to connect. No other servers, e-mail or support software are needed. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.1. Why is NetChat? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Why is NetChat? NetChat for OS/2 has primarily been written to give OS/2 it's first low overhead personal P.M. chat program. It's main goal is to stay as lean and as fast as possible. I have no intention of adding features until it becomes a multi-megabyte bloatware wonder. Current NetChat design specifications call for a maximum NetChat package size of around 300K to 400K. I do intend to make it better and to add numerous enhancements or features but I do not intend to change the basic scope and goal of the program. it is intended to be a one-on-one chat program and will remain that way. It was also written because of my general dislike of the IRC Chat channels. My limited experience there has not generally been a good one. That's why NetChat does not rely on IRC channels or any other extraneous servers - or the mercy of their owners. It will remain that way. Having said that, future design specifications call for a totally separate NetChat version which will allow Round Table (eg....more than two participants) flavoured connections; whether such an implementation becomes reality is dependent upon a display of genuine interest by the internet community in purchasing such a product. A Win95 version is also currently being planned and work on it will commence soon after the launch of this OS/2 version. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Program Requirements ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Netchat for OS/2 Requirements NetChat for OS/2 requires OS/2 3.x or OS/2 4.x. It should run well in machines with small amounts of memory (6-8mb). It also requires you to have TCP/IP installed and an internet provider with an e-mail account to send and receive NetChat Hailing messages. NetChat does not require any IRC servers, IP servers, additional e-mail program, or anything else to function properly. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. What's New In NetChat! ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ What's New In NetChat! NetChat ver. 1.00 (5-10-97) Initilal release. NetChat ver. 1.03 (5-19-97) 1. Bug fixed in the Drag and Drop color support. Colors would not stay constant after being dropped on the main screen entry areas. 2. Eliminated sub-menus for 3 items. Hailing list, hail log, and Phrases sub-menus are now directly on the menu bar. Selecting them will immediately bring up their respective dialog boxes. 3. A Reply to address field and a Reply to name field were added to the Internet acct. settings page. This was added to allow people with multiple accounts or alias accounts to specify a reply to address and name in the event that someone wanted to get their address from a Hail message or from the Hail log. The Hail dialog box will now display this information on it when you Hail someone. 4. BMT purchase applet added to the package to make ordering NetChat even easier! ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. NetChat Support ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ NetChat support NetChat is primarily supported by me through e-mail and/or a live pre-arranged NetChat session with me. NetChat support is not, I repeat, not supplied by BMT Micro. My schedule is very erratic and seldom the same from one week to the next, though. E-mail is probably the most reliable way of getting to me with a problem report. Please send all the details you can if you send a report of a problem. A "It ain't workin dude!" report doesn't do either of us any good! The devil is in the details ..... Send all e-mail to either grobin@iname.com or hkypuck@hotmail.com These mail boxes are usually read every day. E-mail can also be left at the MailTo link on my web page at http://www.coax.net/people/grobin Support for NetChat is also available from Barry Adams and his NetChat Support Page (The Official NetChat Support page). The address is http://cud.cow-net.com/badams/index.htm The web page includes a downloadable list of current users who would like to chat with other users, the latest version of NetChat, the ability to add your own name and e-mail address to the NetChat users list, hints on integrating MR2i with NetChat, and other announcements and helpful ideas. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1. A special thank you! ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ A Special thank you! This program is an accumulation of a lot of work, sacrifice, and sweat. Many man hours spent looking for solutions and lots of "grunt" work. And not all of it was done by me ... The beta testers who have helped and encouraged me, crabbed at me, groaned at my mistakes, and generally given me great ideas are partly responsible for this program being released before the 23 century. In particular four of them have been almost indespensable with their help. My good friend and tester Junior Thompson, whose machine I blow up regularly with experimental code is always a good source for ideas and has been an immense help in facilitating the setting up a local network here to do the testing necessary to finish this application. When I have made 100 million dollars off this program and live near the Riviera I will occassionally send him scraps of my bread when I think of him. Just kidding Junior! Thanks again for the help. Matt Linder, a fellow OS/2 enthusiast and programmer, has also been a source of help with several code related problems. While his schedule is almost as bad as mine we have traded ideas and code via e-mail and the local OS/2 S.I.G. meeting. Thank you Matt for some of the ideas and code snippets. Lastly, are the two "wild and crazy guys" from Canada. Barry Adams and Lawrence Lucier. Barry and Lawrence are two really hip OS/2 enthusiasts who have spent an enormous amount of time connected in NetChat sessions testing and regularly blowing up new features! Every time I thought I had coded something well Barry would just smile (electronically, of course) and crash the latest beta. If it passed his test he handed it to Lawrence for the real test ..... Seriously, a big thank you to Barry and Lawrence for all their efforts and help! ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Installing NetChat for OS/2 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Installing NetChat for OS/2 Copy NETCHAT.EXE to a directory (folder) and put a program object or a shadow object on your Desktop or launchpad. NetChat will create (during use) several data files, temporary files and it's own .INI file. This .INF file may also be copied to the same folder but is not required for NetChat to function properly. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Using NetChat ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Using NetChat NetChat should have it's settings pages filled out before going on to the Quick Start section or the Details on using NetChat section. General use of NetChat consists of connecting with another user and typing text in the lower entry field area (local) and pressing ENTER when you want to send the text to the person you are connected to. The text you type locally and send is also echoed to the upper entry field area. The upper entry field area is also where you will see the messages appear from the person you are connected to. This makes the Nickname setting in the Internet acct. settings dialog very important since each message is preceeded by the senders nickname. This makes it easier to differentiate the origin of the numerous messages in the upper entry field area. Otherwise it could be difficult to tell who typed which message. Also, all messages originated locally and echoed in the upper entry field area have the Nickname encased in the less than symbol (<) and the greater than symbol (>). Messages originated by the remote party will be encased by the left square bracket symbol ([) and the right square bracket symbol (]). ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.1. Special note for ibm.net users! (Advantis) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Special note to ibm.net users It is possible that Advantis users (and perhaps users of some other ISP's) may have a problem getting the Hailing functions or other parts of NetChat to work properly. One of the NetChat beta testers that uses Advantis discovered that a "could not find host name" error message was consistently generated whenever a domain name of ibm.net was typed into NetChats' Internet Account field; this problem was overcome, however, by downloading a file from IBM off their web site that has the alias info needed to access them properly : http://www.ibm.net/helphints.html My beta tester recommends Advantis folks use : smtp-gw01.ca.us.ibm.net to send hailing messages and : pop03.ca.us.ibm.net to receive hailing messages. It is entirely possible that others may also run into this problem with some ISP's. If so, all we can recommend now is to experiment and see if a variation of the domain name for your ISP will work and/or contact your ISP for alias info for their mail server, etc. Looking at the header of a received and a sent mail message may also give a clue as to what the true domain name should be if an alias is used. Please report any problems of this nature. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.2. Initial setup for NetChat ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Initial Setup for NetChat NetChat has 3 sets of configurations - 3 menu items under the main menu item Configure. All three should be filled out and completed before going to the Quick Start section of this .INF file. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.2.1. Internet acct. settings ... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Internet Acct. settings There are two sets of settings fields for internet acct. settings. This is for people who have multiple mail accounts and want to send Hailing messages on one account but receive Hailing messages on another. Most people, who have only one mail account, should fill out the first three items in both of the sets of fields identically. Domain name -- This is usually the base domain of your internet provider. Most often that means everything to the right of the '@' symbol in your e-mail address. Eg., bigdude@monkey.com The Domain name would be : monkey.com We did run into a problem during testing with at least one user, though, that was an I.B.M. Advantis subscriber. He could not get NetChat working when he entered ibm.net as the Domain name. Please read the Special note for ibm.net users! for a solution to the problem. User name -- This is everything to the left of the '@' symbol in your e-mail address. Eg., bigdude@monkey.com The User name would be : bigdude Password -- This is your password for your ISP. Password identification is necessary so that NetChat can monitor your email account for NetChat Hailing messages (if in fact, this function is a desired feature to be utilized by the user). Nickname -- A real name (or alias) identification string that will immediately precede any text entered into the Local Entry Field and then sent to the remote user via the Remote Entry Field. eg: If your name was Gary and you typed in the Local Entry Field: "Have a nice day today!" the text output contained in the Remote Entry Field which is being transmitted to the other person would be formated in the following manner: "<Gary> Have a nice day today!" Most people may prefer to use their real first name while others may prefer to use aliases ... or whatever. Hint: Nicknames can be changed while connected. Reply to address -- The full address you want people to send e-mail to when writing you. This field (together with the Reply to name) will be displayed on the "You are being Hailed!" dialog when you send a hail message to someone. Reply to name -- Your full real name is entered here. Not your user name. This will be added to the Reply to address (described above) and be displayed on the "You are being Hailed!" dialog when you send a hail message to someone. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.2.2. Misc. settings ... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Misc. Settings ... Monitor mail interval -- This is to set how often you want NetChat to check your mail box for NetChat Hailing messages when you are in Monitor ON mode. Default download dir. -- This is where you set your default download directory for files being transferred to you by another NetChat user while you are connected. You will be prompted by a dialog when you accept a file transfer request and that dialog will open in your default download directory. Default upload dir. -- This is where you set your default upload directory for files being transferred by you to another NetChat user while you are connected. You will be prompted by a dialog when you start a file transfer and that dialog will open in your default upload directory. Force NetChat to use machine (network) IP -- This should not be checked unless you are on a local network and want to have two copies of NetChat use their local machine IP's to connect. Even then it may not always work ... All internet users would not check this setting unless you are assigned a permanent IP address. In that case then check it. Start Phrase list at program startup -- This would be checked if you use the Favorite Phrase dialog all the time and want it to start at the same time that you start NetChat. Unhide and bring to the front when hailed -- This should be checked if you want NetChat, while monitoring your mail box in Monitor ON mode and hidden or minimized, to unhide itself and come to the front when it detects a Hailing message. The Hailing dialog itself always prompts you but this will unhide the program itself. Beep me when ... -- NetChat beeps you for a variety of reasons and at a variety of times. If you don't like to hear most or some of the beeping deselect the ones that you choose to not hear. In most cases you are still given a visual notification in the titlebar. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.2.3. Port settings ... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Port settings ... Most casual NetChat users will not want to change these settings. The standard port for NetChat users to talk to one another is 6667 for transmit and/or receive. However, many users might, for several reasons, wish to change the port settings. If you do change the port settings be aware that there is always the potential that another application or the system itself may already be using it. Only one program at a time on the same machine can use the same port. It is generally recommended that you stay in the 6665-6675 range for the receiving and transmitting. it is less likely that you will have any conflict in this range. For file transfers the NetChat default is port 21 - the standard port used for FTP on the internet. It is generally recommended not to change this port. however, if you do it is recommended to use the 6665-6675 range. I have tried many settings for the ports and have never experienced any serious difficulty or any problems so the recommendations above may be considered as generally conservative. Ports can not be changed while you are connected. Also, it stands to reason, that if you are FTPing with another program and try to transfer a file with NetChat at the same time it will fail if you have the file transfer port set to port 21. Only one program at a time on the same machine can use the same port. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.2.4. If you are assigned a permanent IP address ... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ If you are assigned ... If you are assigned a permanent IP address make sure the Force NetChat to use machine (network) IP in the Misc. settings dialog is checked. It Hailing functions will most likely not work unless you check this item. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.3. Quick Start ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Quick start To get up and running fast first make sure you have filled in all the appropriate Settings for NetChat as described in Internet acct. settings ..., Misc. settings ..., and Port settings ... Then, if you want to test and make sure your Domain name is working correctly with NetChat (as well as a few other things) do the following : 1. Select Hailing on the main menu bar and then select Hailing list. 2. When the Hailing list dialog appears put the mouse cursor over the center of it and Right click it once to get the popup menu. 3. Select Add record. In the Add a new record dialog put YOUR name in the first entry area and YOUR e-mail address in the second area. The third area is for small notes. It's not necessary to put anything there. 4. Add other entries for anyone else you want to try and connect with that already has NetChat. Then, to test and see if it's working : 1. Log onto the Internet 2. Start NetChat (if it's not already running) 3. Shut down any programs that automatically download your new incoming mail. 4. Press the Monitor OFF button once (it will go to Monitor ON mode and turn Red) 5. Press the Hail button on the right of the button bar. 6. Select yourself in the list box and either double-click or Press ENTER. (You should also see the Listen OFF button go to Listen ON mode at this time and turn Yellow) NetChat should report (in the titlebar) in a few seconds or so that a Hailing message has been successfully sent. Depending on whether you kept the default setting of 10 seconds for the mail monitoring setting NetChat will detect the Hailing message and Notify you in a few seconds or so. When it does (assuming all is working well) look and see if it is reporting your correct current IP address - assuming you know it. Hit the cancel button. No need to try and connect with yourself. If all this works OK then you can now send a Hailing message to someone else on the net using NetChat and try to connect. When a person receives a Hailing message (and NetChat is running and the Monitor OFF/ON button is in Monitor ON mode) you will be prompted by a dialog and a beep. You will see who is calling, their IP address, and you can select either to Connect or not to. Whether you connect or decline the hailing message will be saved to the hailing log. The hailing log can also be used to connect with someone just like the dialog that prompted you for a decision on an incoming Hail - assuming the person hasn't shut down NetChat and is still on the net in Listen ON mode. This can be useful if you don't want to connect immediately when you are first Hailed. If you decide to connect, NetChat goes through a connect process. If it is successful you will be notified in the titlebar and the Listen ON button (Yellow) will turn to a Connected! button (RED). Finally you will hear a series of three beeps letting you know that you are fully connected. Note : If you ever download a Hailing message into your regular mail program don't panic. Just look at the HEADER of the message (there is no body) and copy the IP address out of it -- right after the characters : &&$~NETCHATMSG~$&& in the subject : area. Then take the IP address and do the Manual Connect as noted directly below. There is an alternative method (Manual Connect) for connecting with NetChat. You don't have to use the hailing message system at all to connect with NetChat. It is merely included as a convenience. If you exchange an IP address through a regular e-mail letter, over the phone, or through ESP -- that is all you really need. If you get the IP address and want to connect to your other party (who is using NetChat) then : 1. Press the Listen OFF button and put NetChat in Listen ON mode 2. Select the File menu item and then select Manual Connect 3. In the manual connect dialog type in the IP address of the person you want to connect to. If he is logged in, running NetChat, and he is also in Listen ON mode then you will connect. 4. When you do connect you will be beeped and flashed 3 times in the titlebar. The Listen ON button on the button bar turns to Red and says "Connected!" Connections usually take 2-10 seconds to complete under normal circumstances. Once connected you type text in the bottom white area and press enter to send it. Both your text and the other person's will show in the upper entry area (cyan). The session can be terminated (by either party) by simply pressing on the Red "Connected!" button (formerly, Listen ON/OFF). It will break the connection and put the button into Connect OFF mode. Reconnection can be accomplished by both parties going back into Listen ON mode and one of the parties using the Manual Connect -- assuming neither party has logged off the internet and/or changed their IP address. You could also reconnect by just Hailing the other party again. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.4. Details on using NetChat ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Details on using NetChat To summarize, NetChat can connect you in basically two ways. Either exchange an IP address in whatever fashion you wish and then use Manual Connect or use the built in Hailing function (Hail button) to do all the work for you. See the various sub-headings under this section for full descriptions of all the features in netChat and other pertenant information. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.4.1. Sending and receiving Hailing messages ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Sending and receiving ... Sending a hailing message is easy. Once you have added some people and their e-mail address to your Hailing list. The list is a small datatbase to enter and keep a record of e-mail addresses for the people you regularly want to connect with. The Hailing list can be accessed from the menu item Hailing list on the menu bar. Accessed this way, you can only add, edit, or delete a record. This is done by right clicking on the Hailing list dialog to get the popup menu and then by selecting the desired action. There are three fields to fill out. The name, e-mail address, and notes. It is not necessary to put anything in the note field. To actually use the Hailing list (after you have some people entered) click once on the Hail button on the button bar. From the resulting dialog you can select one of the entries and press ENTER to actually send a Hailing message (assuming you are logged onto the internet). You can also bring up a popup for this dialog too and add, edit, or delete records just prior to sending the Hailing message. A maximum of 100 records can be stored in the Hailing list. It is possible to send yourself a hailing message. This can be a useful thing to test and see if your internet account settings in NetChat will work correctly. Just add a record with your own name and e-mail address to the list. Log onto the internet and click the Hail button on the button bar and select yourself. Press ENTER or double click on the actually entry. After pressing ENTER you will be notified as to whether it was successfully sent or not in a few seconds. If it was not sent correctly then you may have to double check your Internet acct. settings. It could also mean that your internet provider may be using an alias domain name. You may have to check with your provider or do a little investigation to figure out the settings that will work for you. In particular the domain name setting for the sending Hailing messages. Take a look at the Special note for ibm.net users for a few more details if this fails for you. If, however, the message was sent OK then click once on the Monitor ON/OFF button on the button bar to put NetChat in monitor ON mode (red). Then just wait for a short while. NetChat should check your mail account and find the Hailing message, delete it and disturb nothing else there, and then notify you with a dialog box asking you to either connect with the person hailing or to decline. If this works appropriately decline to connect. No sense trying to connect with yourself! if it doesn't work then check your domain name setting for receiving Hailing messages in the Internet acct. settings dialog. If you believe you have it entered correctly but it still doesn't work then you may have the same problem that is mentioned above with your internet provider using aliases for the domain name. If this is the case then the domain name for sending and receiving may not even be the same. You may have to experiment and/or investigate to figure out the correct settings that will make the Hailing functions work. Even if the hailing functions failed it is still likely that you can still connect with other NetChat users by exchanging your current IP address and using the Manual Connect function (accessed by menu under File). ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.4.2. Connecting with Manual connect ... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Connecting with Manual connect ... Manual connect ... is the manual way of connecting to another NetChat user. it is accessed by selecting File from the main menu bar and the selecting Manual connect. It can also be accessed by the popup menu for the lower entry field area on the main screen. The only prerequisites to using this function are that you already have the other person's current IP address and they are running NetChat in Listen ON mode (on the same receive and transmit ports you are using). At the manual connect dialog just enter the IP address for the person you want to contact and press the connect button to start the connect process. This can be useful when you are already talking to someone and you want to disconnect for some reason (such as someone else is hailing you and you want to answer) but also want to call them back shortly. Just disconnect - but before you do so just tell your current contact to put NetChat back in Listen ON mode after disconnect. Then, when you are ready to get back in contact with him (or her), just use Manual connect and put his (or her) address in and press connect. In a few seconds you are connected again - without having to do another Hail (though there is no problem with doing another Hail, either). ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.4.3. Other features ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Other features File Transfer -- NetChat can also transfer files. To transfer a file while connected simply select the File menu item and then select "Send file". You will see a standard "File open" type dialog box where you can select a file to be sent. Select one and Press Send File. NetChat will prompt the person at the other end by enabling the "Incoming file" button on the Button bar and by flashing and beeping them. At the same time (and until they make a decision on the transfer) you will see a Waiting for a file transfer decision ... notice in the titlebar. The person on the receiving end then presses the button and either accepts or rejects the file transfer. They are presented with a "File open" type dialog, also to deal with at this time. The status of the file transfer is noted in the title bar whether accepted or rejected. Be a little patient as the process is negotiated to begin the transfer. Both users are shown the progress and the completion of the download in the titlebar. File transfers can be aborted almost any time during the process except at the begining when the target person of the transfer is deciding on accepting or rejecting the file. this design shortcoming will be changed in a future update. At any other time during the process select the File menu item and then select Abort file transfer. This menu item is normally greyed out EXCEPT during a file transfer. Phrases ... -- Phrases gives you a sizeable windowed list box to keep up to 100 favorite phrases in for quick "no typing" access. Each phrase can be up to 500 characters long. The Phrase window has a popup menu (right click on it once) to allow Adding, editing, and deleting Phrases. When you Add a phrase, Up to the first 80 characters will actually show in the list box list but all of it will be saved to a record. While connected, and running the Phrases window just double-click on a phrase and it will be automatically sent. (or select and Press ENTER) Hailing List -- This is a small datatbase to enter and keep a list of e-mail addresses for the people you regularly want to connect with. The Hailing list can be accessed from the menu bar directly. Accessed this way, you can only add, edit, or delete a record. This is done by right clicking on the Hailing list dialog to get the popup menu and then by selecting the desired action. There are three fields to fill out. The name, e-mail address, and notes. It is not necessary to put anything in the note field. To actually use the Hailing list (after you have some people entered) click once on the Hail button on the button bar. From the resulting dialog you can select one of the entries and press ENTER to actually send a Hailing message (assuming you are logged onto the internet). You can also bring up a popup for this dialog and add, edit, or delete records just prior to sending the Hailing message. A maximum of 100 records can be stored in the Hailing list. Hail Log -- This log keeps a rotating list of the last 100 Hailing messages you received -- whether you connected with them or not. The Hail log dialog can be used to connect to some one also -- if the hailing log entry is not so old that the person hasn't logged off the internet and if they are still at the same IP address. This can be useful if you get a Hailing message and don't want to connect at that exact moment but do want to connect in a few minutes. Just reject the prompt to connect and use the Hail log to connect when you are ready. it is also useful if you want to disconnect temporarily with someone and reconnect without having to send another hailing message (applicable, of course, if neither of you have changed your IP address and both are back in Listen ON mode). Copy & Paste, Word Wrap, etc. -- The Edit menu item has sub-menu's supporting copy and pasting. The Copy Remote menuitem copies all the text in the remote entry area (upper, CYAN) to the system clipboard. The Paste Local menu item pastes anything that is in the system clipboard (text) into the local entry area (bottom, WHITE). There are also menu items to clear each area and to toggle the Word Wrap state for either. Misc. File menu items -- Under the File menu is also an item that put you in Listen ON mode and one to disconnect you. This mimics the exact same function that is accomplished by clicking on the Listen ON/OFF button the button bar. Manual Connect menu item is described in the Quick Start section. The Wake Up menu item is a function that, while connected, you can select and beep the guy on the other end 3 times to literally get their attention. The download and upload directory menu items will open up an icon view of your default upload/download directories as set in the Misc. settings dialog. Button Bar -- The Listen ON/OFF button is toggable. Select it once and it will go to Listen ON state. In this state NetChat is actually monitoring the port (6667 or whatever you have set it on) for any messages at your specific IP address. You must be in listening mode to be able to connect. If you aren't listening -- you can not connect. When you get a Hailing message NetChat automatically puts itself into Listening ON mode and when you actually connect the Listen ON mode (Yellow) changes to Connected! mode (Red). The Echo button is simply a button to test the connection. At any time while connected just press the Echo button and if the connection is OK you will get one beep and a message flashed in the titlebar. This message has made a round trip from your machine to the other and back. It is also useful to see how fast the connection is. If the connection is broken -- nothing happens. Be patient, though. A slow connection might take several seconds for the message to go there and back. (The echo is only heard on the end that originates it. The other person is not aware that they have been echoed) The copy and paste buttons are slightly different than the menu item counterparts. The paste button is actually the same as the menu item but the copy button only copies selected text in the upper (CYAN) area into the system clipboard. The paste button pastes all the clipboard text contents into the bottom (WHITE) area. The Incoming File button is normally greyed out and only comes to life when someone tries to send you a file. It will beep and flash to let you know. Select it and then decide to accept or reject the incoming file transfer request. Sending files is done through the Send File menu item under the File menu item. The Monitor ON/OFF button toggles back and forth to turn the monitoring on and off for Hailing messages. The Hail button is pressed to initiate calling (Hailing) someone. It pops up a window with a list box of your Hailing list entries. To add, edit, or delete Hailing list entries select Hailing on the menu bar and then select hailing list. Right click on the list for a popup menu. All this can ALSO be done on the dialog box that pops up when you select the Hail BUTTON. Double clicking on an entry in the dialog box (the one initiated from the Hail BUTTON) will send the Hailing message. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.4.4. Drag & drop, popup menus, font/color support, and more ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Drag & drop ... and more This version of netChat has limited support for drag & drop, popup menus, and font & color support. Drag and drop support is limited to the two main entry fields on NetChat's main screen. The top cyan colored area provides the ability to select any text, highlight it, and drag it off the entry field area to a folder or the Desktop and save it to a file when it is dropped. If no text is selected a drag and drop operation will save the entire contents of the entry field area to a file. The bottom white area has only Drop support. This support allows dropping any single file on it for a file transfer. It is merely an alternative way to start a file transfer as opposed to using the menu item to start the operation. Popup menus are supported on several screens including the main screen entry field areas. The popup for the top cyan colored area is limited to Word Wrap, Copy and Clear. the bottom white area's popup has menu items for eleven different items - all of which are found in the the main menu. These popups are added for user convenience and do not have any added function that is not already in the main menu. The Hailing list and the Favorite Phrase dialogs also have popup menu's but these popups (attached to the list box) are more important than the others because their menu items are not available in any other way. They allow adding, editing, and deleting records items for the Hailing list and the Favorite Phrase list. Limited font and color support is available only on the NetChat main screen in the two entry field areas. Use the system color and font palettes to drag and drop colors and fonts on the two areas. The color and font settings will be saved. However, built in support for Multiline Edit objects (thats what these are) is not well supported by OS/2. Some colors and fonts may not be saved properly. Future updates will eventually add more drag & drop, color/font, and popup menu support to other areas of the program. For now it was considered a lesser priority than other things that need to be done. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.4.5. Command line arguments ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Command line arguments NetChat has three command line arguments : 1. -L The -L argument will cause NetChat to start in Listen ON mode. This means that when NetChat first starts it will immediately start monitoring your current port assignement (as set in the port settings) for the receive port. The Listen ON button will be yellow. 2. -M The -M argument will cause NetChat to start in Monitor ON mode. This means that when NetChat first starts it will immediately start monitoring your mail account for Hailing messages. 3. -MC This will cause NetChat to start and immediately prompt you with the Manual Connect dialog. You can choose to cancel or to connect. These command line arguments are included mostly to allow the ability to interface third party mail programs like MR2i, PMMail, Post Road Mailer, and others with NetChat. This makes NetChat even more flexible as it allows not only NetChat itself and/or MailRun to monitor and notify of incoming Hailing messages but also allows many third party mail programs to do so too. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.5. Misc. issues ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Misc. issues Running multiple sessions of NetChat is not directly or explicitly supported. However, it is possible to do so if you run totally separate copies of the program in different folders. Since NetChat does not take up numerous megabytes of space this is a viable solution to those who may want to run multiple concurrent sessions. To do so it is fairly easy to just drag the whole folder that has the NetChat program in it and copy it to another folder or subfolder. To actually run concurrent sessions, though, it is necessary to set the new copy of NetChat on different ports for the Transmit, Receive, and file transfer. These must be set differently than the original session or the new session will not be able to connect or transfer files. The other party you want to connect with must have his port settings set to match yours as well. That is all that is really necessary to run multiple sessions. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Known bugs and limitations ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Known bugs and limitations Like any software that does much NetChat is not perfect. Sometimes you may experiece slight difficulties in connecting. This may be because of problems with your provider and/or other internet difficulties. It may also be because NetChat has a lot going on under the hood. One Known problem is experienced if you are on a local network while you are hooked into the Internet. I.B.M. has a bug -- or perhaps just a bad design choice - in their TCP/IP. NetChat needs the correct current IP that you are using on the Internet interface to connect you to another person. I.B.M.'s TCP/IP , however, causes some of the socket calls to get your Default interface IP -- which if you are on a network will result in NetChat getting your computers network IP instead of the internet IP. There is some code written in NetChat to try and work around this problem but it doesn't always seem to be successful. There are 2 other ways to resolve this. One way is to reboot the work station and to disconnect from network and unload the network drivers. For most people this is not a realistic option. The other solution is to get the LATEST TCP/IP fixes from I.B.M. at one of their sites. Warp 4.0 already has the fixes needed. I am not sure if fix pack #26 for Warp 3.0 has the TCP/IP fixes needed. (easy way to tell is to just start the "Dial Other Provider" dialer and see if there is a check box on Page 2 of the settings for an entry called "Primary Interface". If it's there then you are OK) That said, here is the I.B.M. work-around if you have this problem. You have to use the "Dial Other Provider" dialer that comes with Warp. Select "modify entry" for any entry you have for dialing an ISP and on Page 2 of the settings (Connect Info tab) check the Primary Interface check box. Now when you dial in Warp's TCP/IP will make your internet software (including NetChat) see your Internet IP address instead of your network address. That will be effective only while you are dialed in with this dialer (and the box is checked). When you log off the internet the network is once again the primary interface. It is also possible that other dialers may already support this feature - or will soon. Not many users will have this problem, though. Do not concern yourself if you don't experience this problem. One easy way to tell if it applies to you is to send a hailing message to yourself. Then go to Monotor ON mode and wait for it. When you get it look and see if the current IP address it shows is correct. Most dialers will show what your current IP address is. Another known limitation of NetChat is that you can not abort a file transfer until the target person of the transfer has made a decision on whether to accept or relect it. This might create a minor problem once in a while but should not be a major hinderence. This will hopefully be redesigned to work better in a future update. Please report any other bug and problems with all the possible details you can think of. It doesn't do any good to report a bug or a problem with the program if all you tell me is that it doesn't work. If you truly expect any help or results you have to be willing to articulate and elaborate just what is or is not happening. it also helps to know what your system consists of and what version of NetChat you are using. Less than that is a waste of my time and yours. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Registering NetChat ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Registering NetChat NetChat is shareware - software which is free to try, but it is expected that if you use it beyond a reasonable trial period (30 days), you will register it. This version has complete functionality and is not crippled in any way. it does have several irritating screens that bug and beep you at various times, though. Registering the software will disable these "bug screens". Your support allows further development of NetChat and other projects for OS/2. o $25 - BMT Micro registration. Registration code will be supplied by BMT Micro. See their order form (included with NetChat) and/or visit their web site (www.bmtmicro.com) to see what forms of payment and shipping the provide. This is the preferred way to order NetChat. o $25 - Direct registration. Registration code will be returned via E-mail (or snail mail IF requested). NO disk. Send your check or money order (must be drawn on a US Bank), with some type of a return address, to Gary L. Robinson. If you send an e-mail address PLEASE MAKE IT LEGIBLE. I can't send the registration if I can't read the address or if the address is incorrect. o $250 - Direct registration with a diskette. This is my not so subtle way of saying that I don't really want to spend my hours making disks. Registration for this version of NetChat includes free upgrades to future versions of NetChat up to but not including version 2.0. Registering this version of NetChat will automatically register you for all 1.x and 1.xx releases. When version 2.0 of NetChat arrives, you will need to re-register and pay an upgrade fee. This registration does not include any free upgrades to the MailRun program. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.1. Entering your registration code ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Entering your registration code This is not rocket science! When you register NetChat select the Help menu item on the main screen menu bar. Then select Register ... Enter your registration Code and press Save. You are now registered and ALL the annoying dialogs and beeping will cease! The UNREGISTERED notice in the main screen titlebar will be removed, also. Please keep your registration code and do not lose it. You may need it again if you reinstall NetChat or if you reinstall OS/2 itself. If you lose your registration code please contact me to get it. Do not contact BMT Micro to replace a lost registration code. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Special limited time offer! ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Special limited time offer! Before NetChat for Windows is released : All persons ordering NetChat for OS/2 before the NetChat for Win95 version is released will automatically be registered FREE for the win95 version. After NetChat for Windows is released : After NetChat for Win95 is released both it and NetChat for OS/2 will sell separately -- $25.00 for each application. Or you can buy both for $40.00. Or you can buy one for $25.00 and upgrade later to the other version for an additional $15.00. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. A note to Desktop Wizard users! ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Special offer to DW users Until the end of the year (December 31st, 1997) all registered users of Desktop Wizard can, if desired, register NetChat directly with me for the price of $20.00. This offer is not, I repeat not, available through BMT Micro or anyone else. It is available only if registered directly through me and if you are already registered for Desktop Wizard. If you register Desktop Wizard any time this year before this NetChat offer runs out then you are still eligible for this special offer. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. Order forms ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Order forms Use either the BMT Micro order form or the Direct to me form. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.1. BMT Micro (preferred way) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Mail Orders To: BMT Micro PO Box 15016 Wilmington, NC 28408 U.S.A. Voice Orders: 8:00am - 7:00pm EST (-5 GMT) (800) 414-4268 (orders only) (910) 791-7052 Fax Orders: (910) 350-2937 24 hours / 7 Days (800) 346-1672 24 hours / 7 Days Online Orders via modem: (910) 350-8061 10 lines, all 14.4K (910) 799-0923 Direct 28.8K line via Internet: orders@bmtmicro.com telnet@bmtmicro.com http://www.bmtmicro.com Secure Ordering: https://wwws.wilmington.net/bmtmicro/secure_form.html Ordering and general ordering questions: Via AOL: bmtmicro Via MSN: bmtmicro Via Prodigy: HNGP66D Via Compuserve: 74031,307 We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Diners Club, Carte Blanche, Cashiers Check, Personal Check. Personal checks are subject to clearance. Eurochecks in DM are welcome. DM, Sterling, and US Currency is welcome but send only by registered mail, return receipt requested. We cannot be liable for lost cash sent through the mail. If you reside in a country with an unconvertible currency please contact us for alternatives. Purchase orders are welcome, subject to approval. The minimum amount is $250.00. Information for our German customers is explained in the last paragraph of this order form. _____________________________________________________________________ Company:_____________________________________________________________ Name:________________________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ City: _______________________________State/Province: ________________ Postal/ZIP Code: ____________________Country:________________________ Phone:_______________________________________________________________ Fax: _______________________________________________________________ E-Mail #1____________________________________________________________ E-Mail #2____________________________________________________________ Product Quantity Price Number of copies _________________________ ______________ ________________ _________________________ ______________ x ____________ = + $ _______ _________________________ ______________ x ____________ = + $ _______ _________________________ ______________ x ____________ = + $ _______ Latest Version on Diskette _____$3.00____ x ____________ = + $ _______ North Carolina Residents add 6% Sales Tax $ _______ Shipping and Handling (no quantity limit / see below) $ _______ Email - Subject to Credit Card Verification Free Fax (USA/Canada)........................... 1.00 US Fax (Non-North America).................... 2.00 US Worldwide 1st Class ....................... Free 2nd Day Priority, USA Only ................ $ 4.00 US US Postal Service International Express (Including Canada and Mexico), allow up to 7-10 days ............................... $ 25.00 US Airborne Select Delivery (USA Only) $ 8.00 US FedEx Overnight, USA Only (delivery by 3:00 pm the following day) .............. $ 15.00 US FedEx Europe/Japan ( guaranteed delivery within 3 days) .......................... $ 35.00 US Total: $ _______ For credit card payment only Circle one: VISA / Master / Discover / American Express / Diners Credit card number: _____________________________________________ Expiration date: ________________________________________________ Authorization signature: ________________________________________ ORDERING FROM INSIDE GERMANY ONLY ================================= Persons in Germany wishing to order shareware may also transfer funds into our account with Deutsche Bank. Once the money is deposited you may either fax a confirmation to us with proof of deposit or wait until Deutsche Bank notifies us of the transaction (usually 10-18 business days). Account information is as follows: Deutsche Bank / Frankfurt Branch Empf╨önger: Thomas Bradford Konto-Nummer: 0860221 Bankleitzahl: 500-700-10 When you make the transfer, be sure to put your name and the program you are registering on the transfer. Current exchange rates can be obtained by sending an email to dm_to_us@bmtmicro.com. An automated reply will return todays exchange rates. It is very important that you send us a completed order form by either email or fax if you deposit money into this account for a registration. Fill the order form out as usual except in the credit card number field put "DEUTSCHE BANK". We will file the order and use it to match against the deposit information we receive from the bank. IMPORTANT! ---------- When you email us your order form, we will reply with an acknowledgement. If you do not get an acknowledgement within 24 hours please send your order again in case it was lost. This extra bit of caution can save a lot of confusion. If you are concerned that your order is taking too long to process, feel free to check with us about the status of your order. It's important to all of us that you feel safe doing business with our company and please feel free to suggest ways we can improve our service to you. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.2. BMT Micro Purchase Applet (preferred way) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ BMT Micro Purchase Applet The BMT Micro purchase applet is a secure and easy (also fun!) way of ordering NetChat for OS/2. Just use your favorite tool to unzip the purchase.zip file that came with nc103.zip. Put both files that unzipped from purchase.zip into the same directory then log onto the internet. After you are logged onto the internet double click (execute) the purchase.exe program. This will popup a dialog with a BMT Micro order form. Fill out the form completely. Then press the Order Info button in the lower right corner of the dialog. that will take you to page 2 where you will complete the order. Double click on NetChat in the list box to set how many copies you want to buy. Then print a copy of the order if desired and press the button to e-mail the registration directly to BMT Micro. The e-mail order form message is encrypted and secure. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.3. Direct from me ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ ------------------------------------------------------------------ REGISTRATION FORM NetChat for OS/2 ver. 1.00 Copyright (c) 1997 by Gary L. Robinson ------------------------------------------------------------------ CASH, CHECK or MONEY ORDER -------------------------- Please complete the following information and return this form with your check or money order to the address below. Please make all checks and money orders for funds payable to Gary L. Robinson. Current U.S.A. price is $25.00 for a single copy. Please contact me for additional information on multiple registration price listings or for foreign orders. Please submit to: Gary L. Robinson P.O. Box 359 Christiansburg, OH 45389-0359 USA ------------------------------------------------------------------ <Please Type or Print Clearly> Name: ___________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ City: _____________________ St or Prov: ________________________ Postal Code: ________________ Country: _________________________ E-Mail address: ________________________________ Date: ___-___-______ I would like to register: Totals ___ Copy(s) of NetChat for OS/2 @ ___ per copy: $_________________ OHIO Residents add %6.5 for state sales tax: $___________________ I am including a check or money order for: $___________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12. What is MailRun? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ What is MailRun? MailRun is a small (both in the size of the executable file and the amount of screen real estate if takes up) and fast program to monitor your Pop3 mail account. It can be set to notify you in, numerous ways, when you have new incoming mail including starting other programs, beeping you, prompting you with a dialog, and playing .WAV files. It's highly configurable and also has a mail preview feature to take a sneak peek at what is in your mail box without having to download it. Other features allow downloading the header file and a maximum of 50 lines, deleting files from your mail box, and running multiple copies to monitor multiple mail boxes. MailRun can be sized to take up a very small rectangular area and and also be set to float to the top of everything else if desired. MailRun also can notify NetChat uers, if desired, when they are being Hailed by someone for a chat session. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12.1. Why is MailRun? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Why is MailRun? MailRun was written to be a more flexible Pop3 mail monitor than currently is available. It takes up less screen space, it's executable is smaller in size, has numerous ways of notifying you of incoming mail, and has several other features not found together in any other Pop3 mail watcher. It also was written to work in conjunction with NetChat if desired. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 13. Program Requirements ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Program Requirements MailRun requires OS/2 3.x or OS/2 4.x. It should run well in machines with small amounts of memory (6-8mb). It also requires you to have TCP/IP installed and an internet provider with an e-mail account. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 14. What's New In MailRun! ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ What's New In MailRun! MailRun ver. 1.23 (5-10-97) Initilal release. MailRun ver. 1.3 1. An Argument field was added in the settings page for the start program feature/menu item. This will allow specifying arguments for your mail program or any other program that is automatically started with MailRun. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 15. MailRun Support ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ MailRun Support MailRun is primarily supported by me through e-mail and/or a live pre-arranged NetChat session with me. My schedule is very erratic and seldom the same from one week to the next, though. E-mail is probably the most reliable way of getting to me with a problem report. Please send all the details you can if you send a report of a problem. A "It ain't workin dude!" report doesn't do either of us any good! The devil is in the details ..... Send all e-mail to either grobin@iname.com or hkypuck@hotmail.com These mail boxes are usually read every day. E-mail can also be left at the MailTo link on my web page at http://www.coax.net/people/grobin or the MailTo link at NetChat Support Page at http://cud.cow-net.com/badams/index.htm ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 16. Installing MailRun ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Installing MailRun Installing MailRun is a huge and tedious task. Step 1 is to copy the single file mailrun.exe to a directory by itself or it can be put in the NetChat directory to conserve space. Step 2 is to put an icon on your launch bar or Desktop for it. That's it. I hope the installation did not wear you out! ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 17. Using MailRun ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Using MailRun MailRun should have it's settings pages filled out before going on to the Quick Start section. For a Quick Start start, though, only the internet account information area needs to be set if you don't mind using the other program setting defaults. When MailRun is first started it appears in the lower left quadrant of the screen. All of it's features are accessable through a popup menu. Place your mouse pointer near the top of it's window (in the grey area) and click the right mouse button once to see the popup menu. MailRun is moved by putting the mouse pointer on the top part of it's small window (grey area) and holding down on Mouse Button 1 (left) and dragging it to a new location. It can be resized by placing the mouse pointer at the edge or corners of it's window and when you see the double arrow then hold down on Mouse Button 1 or 2 and drag to resize. Double clicking on the main MailRun screen with mouse button 1 will close the program. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 17.1. Initial setup for MailRun ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Initial setup for MailRun First bring up the popup menu for mailRun. All of it's features are accessable through a popup menu. Place your mouse pointer near the top of it's window (in the grey area) and click the right mouse button once to see the popup menu. Select Settings near the bottom of the menu. This will bring up the main mailRun Settings dialog. Internet account information -- This area has three entry fields : Domain name -- The domain name is usually everything to the right of the @ symbol in your internet address. eg., bigdude@hailbop.com would have a domain name of hailbop.com User name --- The user name is usually everything to the left of the @ symbol in your internet address. eg., bigdude@hailbop.com would have a user name of bigdude Password -- The password is the password assigned to you by your internet provider to access your internet account and/or your mail box. Notification methods -- This area has five main ways to notify you when new mail arrives in your mail box. Whichever of the five you select (radio buttons) it can also do either or both of the check box selections at the bottom. None -- This selection causes MailRun not to notify you in any way except in it's own windows readout. Beep -- This selection causes MailRun execute a small series of beeps. Flash -- This selection causes MailRun to lash it's own window readout - a silent type of notification. Popup dialog -- This selection causes MailRun to popup a dialog window no matter what ele you are doing on the Desktop. The dialog box has two initial sub-settings for it. Select Beep if you want the popup dialog box to also beep you and select Autoclose if you want the dialog to automatically close regardless if you press the OK button on the dialog or not. If this is selected then set the autoclose time (in seconds) in the spin button below that choice. The autoclose time interval can also be reset on the fly in the popup dialog. Play .WAV file -- This selection causes MailRun to run a user selectable .wav file. Enter the fully qualified name of the wave file in the entry field below the button. Start program on notification (menu item also) -- This selection can be used in addition to one of the five radio button selections or by itself. It will start almost any other program (OS/2, DOS, or Windows) when new mail arrives in your account. Enter the fully qualified executable file name for the program you wish to start in the entry field below the check box. Enter any arguments for it in the argument entry field. Start MailRun Preview screen (menu item also) -- This selection can be used in addition to one of the five radio button selections or by itself. It will start the MailRun mail Preview feature when new mail arrives in your account. Program startup -- This area has two main selections to set to determine what, if anything, you want MailRun to automatically do when it starts up. Minimize -- Selecting this will cause MailRun to be started in a minimized state. Mail messages -- Selecting this will give you the choice of having MailRun start in a dormant state and not check for incoming mail, check only once then stop checking, or to start in Autocheck mode and check at the intervals set below in the Autocheck spin box. Mail notification -- This area has only two choices to decide when you want to be notified. Every time MR checks for mail -- This selection will notify you every time MailRun checks for mail. this is usually just used for testing purposes and probably won't be used by most people. Only when mail is found -- This is the default and normal selection. This selection will cause MailRun to notify you whenever there is mail in your mail box. Autocheck (seconds) -- Set this spin button to the interval that you want MailRun to use to notify you of mail in your mail box. It has a minimum setting of 15 seconds and a maximum setting of 100,000 seconds. Max. lines to download -- This spin button sets the maximum number of lines in a mail message to download (in addition to the header information) in a Mail Preview download operation. Start mail query on preview open -- This selection makes the Mail Preview dialog to query your mail box when you start it. Otherwise the Preview dialog starts and waits for you to decide what to do. Force window to float to top -- This selection makes the main MailRun window float to the top of the screen every few seconds regardless if it is covered up by other program windows. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 17.2. NetChat settings for MailRun ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ NetChat settings for MailRun MailRun can be somewhat integrated with NetChat to make mailRun either beep you when it detects a Hail message in your mail box or to start NetChat in Monitor ON mode when it detects a Hail message. To enable this integration first check the check box for "Enable detection of NetChat hailing messages". Then select whether what you want MailRun to do when it finds a NetChat message in your mail box. If you set MailRun to start NetChat in Monitor ON mode then you must also type in the complete path to where NetChat is located. Just the complete path. Do not put the name of the netchat.exe file in the entry field. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 17.3. Quick Start ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Quick Start For a Quick Start start only the internet account information area (on the main settings page) needs to be set if you don't mind using the other program setting defaults. Additionally, if you want to use it integrated with NetChat, the NetChat settings page for mailRun needs to be set also. Both of these settings pages are accessable by placing the mouse pointer over the upper grey area of the MailRun main screen and clicking right mouse button once to activate the popup menu. Then select Settings and/or NetChat Settings to bring up the respective settings dialog boxes. After filling out the minimum settings and saving them close the program and restart it to test the program. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 17.4. MailRun popup menu items ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ MailRun popup menu items Start autochecking for mail -- This selection makes MailRun start looking for mail in your mail account at the time interval set in the Settings dialog. Stop autochecking for mail -- This selection will basically "turn off" MailRun and stop it from checking for mail. Check for mail now -- This selection will make MailRun check once for mail immediately. It can be selected at any time - whether MailRun is in autocheck mode or not. Minimize at program startup -- This selection will force MailRun to be minimized when it is started. Minimize now -- This selection causes MailRun to be minimized immediately. Start mail program -- This selection will start your mail program if you entered one on the Settings page under the notification method section. You do not have to have the check box on the settings page actually checked to start your mail program from this menu item. Quit -- Closes MailRun. Settings ... -- This selection brings up the main Settings dialog for MailRun. NetChat Settings ... -- This selection brings up the dialog for the NetChat integration settings. About -- This selection brings up the About dialog box. This is where you can get the info on what version you are using and info on where to register the program. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 17.5. MailRun Preview dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ MailRun preview dialog The MailRun preview dialog is used to preview what you have in your mail account. It has several features to make this a useful tool. The Preview dialog can be set to query your mail account when the dialog is first is opened. It will get the basic information of what is currently in your account. It displays a list of the messages in the dialog's list box, the total number of messages there, and the total number of bytes in all the messages combined. You can also scroll the messages and see individual information for each one. The subject line, date, time, and size are all displayed for the currently selected message. Messages can be deleted individually or all the messages can be deleted at the same time by pressing the appropriate button. Messages can also be individually downloaded or all messages can be downloaded. Note that MailRun can download a maximum of 50 lines of a message (in addition to the header). Messages can also be viewed without downloading them by selecting the desired message and pressing the View button. Note that you can only view a maximum of 50 lines (in addition to the header). The Query mail button will query and/or refresh all the information on whats currently in your mail account. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 17.6. MailRun notification dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ MailRun notification dialog MailRun can be set to notify you of incoming mail by poping up a dialog and showing you how many messages are waiting for you in your mail box. The mail notification dialog has several interesting features of its own. When you are notified of incoming mail with this dialog you can simply press OK and be done with it. You can also set it to automatically close the dialog box after a user specified interval even if you don't press OK. This is accomplished in the Notification methods section of the main settings dialog. When you are actually notified you can modify the behavior of this dialog on-the-fly too. When notified you can press OK and the dialog closes. It will notify you again at the user specified interval if you still have mail in the account. However, you can temporarily suspend this behavior if you are in the middle of doing something. When notified press the OK-Suspend button. This will temporarily suspend MailRun's notification for the time value (in minutes) set in the spin box in the lower right corner of the dialog box. The suspend time value itself can be changed on the fly. Just click into the area of the spin button that actually displays the suspend value. That will stop the autoclose feature (if it is set on) and allow you to set the Suspend value to something new. After setting the new value then press OK-Suspend and it will suspend checking for mail until the time interval that you just set has passed. The suspend feature can be thought of as something similar to a "snooze" feature on an alarm clock. The OK-Start preview button will close the notifation dialog and will start the Mail Prview program. The OK-Start program will close the dialog and start the program (if any is specified) that is pointed to in the "Start program on notification" entry field. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 18. Registering MailRun ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Registering MailRun This version of MailRun is included free with NetChat and does not need to be separately registered. You are registered for it when you register for NetChat. MailRun is currently not sold in any other manner and is only available with NetChat. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 19. Package contents for NCHAT100.ZIP ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ Package Contents The files contained within the NetChat archive are: 1. BMTORDER.DOC 6286 bytes 2. FILE_ID.DIZ 1006 bytes 3. MAILRUN.EXE 121791 4. NETCHAT.EXE 154799 5. NETCHAT.INF 68610 6. ORDERFRM.DOC 1886 7. purchase.zip 46941 If all these files are not present when the archive is unzipped, please notify the sysop where you downloaded the archive from. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 20. License for NetChat and MailRun ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ License Shareware These programs are shareware and are not free. It is expected that after 30 days of trial use you either erase the software and stop using it or you register it. Distribution These programs can be freely distributed by any means as long as all the original files remain together and are not altered. They cannot be used for any commercial purpose or sold without first obtaining the authors permission. Disclaimer This package is provided "as is", without any guarantees or warrantees whatsoever. The author is not liable or responsible for any loss or damage of any kind whatsoever, including, but not limited to, losses of a financial, physical, emotional, marital, social, or mental nature that may result from the use or the purported use of anything in this package, for any purpose whatsoever.