This is a little manual, that helps you to perform the right choice in configuration, and explain all possible choice.

Sorry for my English, it's very poor.

CheckP3 is an Internet Checker, it controls the change in mail servers (for new mail), in Web pages (for change), in Ftp server (for new files or file chenge),  and considering that it's a resident program, I think of implementing a little chat system (one to one).

General Features:

• First af all FREEWARE.
• Support infinite servers.
• On status change (new mail, new file, new web, new live/dead host), it can inform you in several way.
• Timer or on demand schedule.
• Automatic startup at window startup.
• Has a debug window to effective trace communication between client and server.
• Can start iconized.
• Use tray Icon.

Mail Features:

• Can set specific time for schedule.
• Can start your favorite email client.
• Support POP3 server as well as IMAP4 on all port.
• Can get Header of message.
• Can use secure authentication (this is not really tested yet).
• If necessary you can interact directly with server for delete/view/retrive message

Url Features:

• Can set specific time for schedule.
• Can start your favorite web browser.
• Support all port.
• Support authentication (not really tested).

Ftp Features:

• Can set specific time for schedule.
• Support all port.
• Multiple methods for detecting change.

Ping Features:

• Can set specific time for schedule.
• You can set number of packet and timeout.

All hosts (mail, web,ping,ftp), can be set to start only on demand schedule, only on timer schedule, both or none (I use it for debug purpose).

This is the main window, as you can see there are some panels, each of one rappresents a section of program.
The panel appears only if enabled (see configuration).

Here, if you right-click over the grid, a menu appears, where you can add, remove or modify servers.
The first choice of this menu, it depends on which section you are, in mail grid, you direct interact with selected mail server, in url section, you run your favorite web browser (no configuration need), and in pinger section you try to chat with your party.

If you left double-click, you see a more specific situation, it depends on section you are.

If you iconize the appication, the only way to see again the main window is to double-click on checkp3 icon in tray-icon. The tray icon has the same menu that you see in main window. This menu activates if you right-click over the icon.

• Start Iconized. If set the application starts in icon form so no main window appears, you have to double-click on tray icon to show it.
• Disable close button. When you press close button in main window, the program iconize itself instead of closing.
• Autostart. The program starts, when window starts.
• Enable chat server. This option enables the chat server, so your friends can call you. You can see if server is running in chat page in main window. Here you can stop and restart chat server. If thi option is not enabled, you can't see the chat page in main window.
• Connection timeout. When CheckP3 does not receive something for timeout seconds, it close connection. This is a very dangerous option, be careful.
• Usage of this program. Check the use for you of this program. This option has only the effect to hide the appropriate page and menu in main window.

Now we study mail server configuration, others are very similar.

• Loop interval. This is the time in munutes (hour for url and ftp), every time schedule starts. Remember, you can run schedule manually every time you want.
• Debug window. If set, a dedug window appears. Here you can see the communication trace between client and server.
• Check immediately. If set, the first loop starts when program starts, otherwise the first loop starts after loop interval.
• E-Mail reader. Here you can type your favorite email reader (Ex. 'c:\...\netscape -mail'). When new mail arrives and popup window appear, you can start it.
• Multimedia file. Here you can specify a .wav file which will play when new mail arrives and if option is enabled.
• On new mail. Action to perform when new mail arrives.

Chat configuration involes the choice of server port (default 4040). You and your friend must have the same port number to communicate.

This window appears when you insert a new email account.
In pop3 server you must insert the host name or ip address of your mail server.
Then you must insert account and password.

And now you have to choose type of server, and remote port. If you are not sure don't change anything.
Users usually have a pop3 server with default port 110.

If try to get header is selected, CheckP3 try to use TOP command, to understand the sender and subject of your mail.

Normally when CheckP3 contacts mail server, sends out clearly user and password. Some server supports the APOP command, which is a secure authentication. I don't have a server which support it, so I have never tested this command. Please let me know if works.

For debug purpose, I include an option for choose when this server check.

• Only in Automatic mode. This site is checked only on timer schedule.
• Only in Manual mode. This site is checked only on manual schedule.
• Never. This site is never checked.
• Always. This site is always checked.

In ping section there are the number of packet to send and a timeout for response. It's useful because the ping program may fail if network is slow. So you must calibrate this parameters for your situation.
 

URL section has an user and password, and uses a secure authentication if necessary, but I have never tested it.
In URL and FTP section server MUST be in the form:

Example (this page does not really exist):
www.microsoft.com/index.htm
www.netscape.com/test/forum.htm
 

FTP is a little bit more difficult.

 

The path_file may be a single file (ftp.netscape.com/pub/others/pollo.zip), entire directory (ftp.netscape.com/pub) or multiple file (ftp.netscape.com/pub/po*).
Mind the single / or double // !!
It's different  "host.domain//file" AND "host.domain/file".
In the first case the path_file STARTS from root, in the second case the path_file STARTS in the directory that you are when you log in, the may be different from root of your system. For example if you log in as a user, probably the ftp server puts you in your home directory, but probably you have permission to move around the system.
 

You can use four methods.

• Size (if supported). Tries to get the file size, if changes it notifies you. This command is useful only if a single file is being checked.
• Mod. Time (if supported). Tries to get file modification time, if changes it notifies you. This command is useful only if a single file is being checked.
• Short List. Tries to perform a NLST command, but on a single file this makes no sense becouse in most system this command returns a directory without attributs, so in a single file this command returns only the name, and probably this never changes. But if you monitor entire directory this is OK.
• Long list performs a LIST command, this is similar to NLST but the output is much more detailed (depend on system, use debug windows to see output). This always work and probably this is the best method.

Thanks all

Andrea.