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PMICS - The Internet Chess Client for OS/2 Warp
Version 2.1.1 Released 15th September 1996
Copyright (C)1996 Paul Mitchell/Mystic Software
USER MANUAL
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See Also
--------
README for final notes and information about this release
HISTORY.DOC for revision history
Introduction
------------
PMICS is a sophisticated interface for the numerous chess servers available on
the internet. Using PMICS you can play chess, observe other games and chat to
the inhabitants of these servers. PMICS is a native, 32-bit, multi-threaded
application which makes full use of the incredible power of OS/2 Warp.
This file is a concise guide to using PMICS. It is a stopgap measure until
the next release which will have a full on-line help capability. Please tell
the author of any corrections or omissions.
For news, information and updates be sure to check out the web site dedicated
to PMICS. The URL is http://www.tcom.co.uk/secondnature/pmics/
System Requirements
-------------------
To run PMICS successfully, your system must have at least the following
configuration...
o OS/2 Warp Version 3.0 or above (including Warp Connect and Merlin)
o A TCP/IP connection to the internet, such as Internet Access Kit found
on the Warp BonusPak, or the TCP/IP support in Warp Connect
o A mouse
o A SuperVGA display with 256 or more colours
Installation
------------
Create a folder on your system and copy the file "pmics.exe" into it. You can
then create a program object for PMICS in the usual fashion.
Running PMICS
-------------
PMICS is normally run from a program object. You do not need to specify any
command line parameters for normal use.
If you wish to automatically connect to a server when running PMICS, specify
the tag name used to create the server in the configuration as the parameters
in the program object. Using this feature, you can create multiple program
objects each connecting to a different server.
Quick Start
-----------
When you run PMICS, the main window appears. This consists of a main area
with a scrollbar which displays text from a server. Above this is the main
control toolbar. At the bottom of the window is the communication control
area which contains two buttons and a command line.
You may run PMICS without an active internet connection, but your system
should be connected to the internet before attempting to connect to a
server. PMICS will not establish an internet link for you.
To connect to a server, click the "Login" button on the main toolbar. You
will see a list of available servers appear. Select the server you wish to
connect with and press the OK button.
You should see some messages appear in the text area. Normally you will see
"Establishing connection with <server>" followed by "Connection established"
and finally the welcome screen from the server.
PMICS should automatically log you in to the server. You are now ready to
play, observe and chat!
Observing Games
---------------
You can easily observe other people's games using PMICS. First, locate the
game (or games) you wish to observe. The player information window is
useful for this since you can click on an active game then click the
Observe button. You can also observe using server commands. Click the
Games button on the main toolbar to list all the active games. Locate the
game you are interested in, type 'obs <game number>' on the command line
then press Enter.
If all went well, the game board will appear on the screen. See the section
on game windows below for more information.
Playing Games
-------------
Playing chess is equally simple with PMICS. There are two ways to do this -
you can challenge another player, or accept a challenge from someone. You
will only be able to receive challenges from others if you are 'open'. The
Open button on the main toolbar will change your open status.
When someone challenges you to a match, a dialog will appear (with an
appropriate sound if you have set this up). You can review the game
parameters (time controls, game type) in this dialog then choose to accept,
decline or ignore the challenge. If you accept, a game window will appear.
To challenge someone else to a match, you must first locate your "victim".
Again, the player information window is useful here. Click on a player who
is not currently involved in a game then click the Finger button. This will
display information about that person including ratings and personal notes.
When you have decided whom you would like to challenge, select that player
then click the Challenge button. A dialog will appear allowing you to set
the game parameters. Click the Issue button to send the challenge. If your
chosen opponent accepts, the game window will appear.
See the section on game windows below for more information.
Talking
-------
Chess servers are like clubs. You can sit back and listen to people talking,
hold private conversations and make a complete nuisance of yourself (which
is not recommended). There are several server commands which allow you to
talk, depending on who and how many players you wish to address. PMICS also
has a sophisticated windowing system which allows you to separate different
kinds of chat into their own custom windows.
The main server commands for talking are listed below. Although it is better to
use the PMICS talk windows, these can be typed on the command line to send
one-off messages.
'tell <user> <message>'
This sends a message to the named user. It will appear on their screen as
'<your name> tells you: <message>'. This type of conversation is private
and the user you address must be logged into the server.
'tell <channel number> <message>'
The servers have channels, much like CB radio, dedicated to specific
topics. This form of tell sends a message to all users who are listening
to the channel. It will appear on their screens as
'<your name>(<number>): <message>'. A help file on the server called
'channel_list' contains the topics for each channel. If you require help
regarding the server, this is generally the topic of channel 1.
'shout <message>'
This command sends a message to all users who are listening to shouts. It
appears on their screen as '<your name> shouts: <message>'. Most servers
limit the number of shouts you can send in a specific time period.
'it <message>'
This is a derivative of the shout command. The difference is that your
message appears in the form '--> <your name> <message>'.
'cshout <message>'
Another derivative of shout, this should be used only for topics related
to chess.
'kib <message>'
Kibitz. If you are observing or playing a game, this command will send a
message to all the observers of the game *and* the players. This can be
very distracting to the players, so only use it if you are sure you are
allowed. If it's your own game, do as you wish.
'whisper <message>'
This is similar to kibitzing except that the message goes only to the
observers and not to the players.
A General Note About PMICS Windows
----------------------------------
All the main windows in PMICS - including player information, game and talk
windows - exhibit the same general characteristics. Their size and position
is stored. You can change colours and fonts by dragging from the OS/2 colour
and font palettes. In the main and talk windows, the displayed text will
automatically wrap to the width of the window.
Experiment with them! Set the colours, fonts and positions just the way you
like them. PMICS will remember.
The Main Window
---------------
The main PMICS window is where you control server activities, and where all
server output is displayed (if not handled by a talk window - see later). It
is the only window from which you should send server commands.
The main toolbar is the primary means of controlling PMICS. The buttons which
appear depend on whether you are connected