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Text File | 1995-06-25 | 18.1 KB | 394 lines

│░ │ │▒░ │ TurboCHAT v2.60b │▓▒░ │ By Steve Blinch of Mikerosoft Productions │█▓▒░ │ Documentation │██▓▒▒│ ┌─┤█▓▒░ Description ░▒▓█├──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ TurboCHAT is a windowed SysOp/User chat program. It will read page files for both SuperBBS and RemoteAccess, or play a .MOD file, or play a song from a CD in your CD-ROM drive. Wordwrap, color changing, macros, and paging hours are just a few of it's features. └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─┤█▓▒░ Disclaimer ░▒▓█├───────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ TurboCHAT comes with no warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to this software and accompanying documentation. In no event shall Steve Blinch, Michael Helliker, or any other member of Mikerosoft Productions be liable for any damages (including loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use or inability to use this software, even if Mikerosoft Productions has been advised of the possibility of such damages. The execution of TCHAT.EXE or any other executable packaged with TurboCHAT signifies your agreement to the above terms. TurboCHAT HAS, however, been tested on the following systems, and has had no problems & caused no evident damage to any of them: a) a '486dx/33 w/SBPro, 1024k VGA card, 14400 & 2400 baud modems b) a '386dx/33 w/no sound card, 1024k VGA card, 14400 baud modem c) a '386sx/33 w/Adlib, 1024k SVGA card, 2400 baud modem d) a '386sx/20 w/SB, Hercules Monochrome card, 14400 baud modem e) a '286/12 w/no sound card, 256k VGA card, 14400 & 2400 baud modems f) an 8086 XT w/SB, Hercules Monochrome card, 2400 baud modem └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─┤█▓▒░ Setup ░▒▓█├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ All setup is done from TurboCHAT's setup program, TCSETUP.EXE. All options are explained well enough in there (I hope!) that I won't bother explaining each one here. └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─┤█▓▒░ Parameters ░▒▓█├───────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ TurboCHAT's parameters are: /P???????? If using a multinode system, the path to the BBS files for the current node. /N? If using a multinode system, the number of the current node. /S<num> If using a multitasker, a slice will be released every <num>/100 of a second, defaults to 100 (release a slice every second) which works pretty good. /C Go directly to chat mode; do not ask for page reason, do not play page tune. Useful if you want to make an "Initiate Chat" hotkey in your BBS program, say, Alt+C. /L Ignore scroll lock status. By default, if Scroll Lock is ON when a user attempts to page, a message will be displayed and he will be returned to the BBS. With this parameter, scroll lock will be ignored. /H Ignore paging hours. By default, if a user tries to page outside of paging hours, a message will be displayed and he will be returned to the BBS. With this parameter, the paging hours will be ignored. /O Override any restrictions and page the SysOp. This setting will ignore the maximum number of pages, the scroll lock status, and the paging hours, and page unconditionally. Be careful with this one or you might end up with some loser paging you at 3:00 in the morning to tell you that your board looks nice! =) /LSIMDOS Load SimDOS automatically, without initiating chat mode first. [see section below] └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─┤█▓▒░ In-Chat Keys ░▒▓█├─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ The following commands are available inside TurboCHAT during chat: Ctrl+A <0-F> ■ Change colors (0 = Black, 1 = Blue ... E = Yellow, F = White) Ctrl+R ■ Redraw screen Ctrl+W ■ Clear screen Ctrl+Y ■ Clear line Ctrl+X ■ Switch windows (SysOp <-> User Window, SysOp only) Alt+C ■ Change status bars (SysOp only) Alt+G ■ Beep user (SysOp only) Alt+H ■ Hang up on user (SysOp only) Alt+J ■ Drop to DOS (SysOp only) Alt+S ■ System Menu (SysOp only) Alt+W ■ Clear remote window (SysOp only) Alt+E ■ Invoke user editor (SysOp only, RemoteAccess only) Alt+D ■ Invoke TurboCHAT SimDOS! [see section below] F1 to F10 ■ Send the string defined for each of these keys in the control file The following commands are in the TurboCHAT System Menu: Module Activity ■ Load a .MOD, change the output device, get info on the currently playing MOD, etc. Time Check ■ Enable or disable time checking for the user. If time checking is ON and the user runs out of time, he will be returned to the BBS. Capture Log ■ Toggle logging the chat session to a text file. Chat Info ■ Some pretty-much useless information on the chat session. =) FunkyChat ■ Toggles this feature on or off CD Player ■ Play/Stop/Eject/Pause/Resume a CD or change songs. User Terminator ■ :-) Ever have a user online who you wish you could smack upside the head really hard? Well, here's the next best thing.. Four anti-bad user options (Hangup, Zero Security & Hangup, Add to TRASHCAN.CTL & Hangup, and Zero, TRASHCAN, & Hangup) to allow you to get rid of your problem users quickly & effectively! :-) └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─┤█▓▒░ TurboCHAT Custom Chat Screens ░▒▓█├────────────────────────────────┐ Due to several requests for this option, I've finally decided to include it! This allows you to make your OWN screens for chat, and stops you from having to use one of TurboCHAT's previous two built-in ones. To create a screen, all you have to do is create a plain ol' ANSI file, with the extension .SCR (for example, MYCHAT.SCR). Inside this file, do your ANSI graphics (obviously including two windows, one for the local chat, one for the remote). NOTE: This file *MUST NOT* be an animation (that is, the cursor should never move up or to the left and overwrite text it has already displayed). Also note that the Move Cursor, Save Cursor Position, and Restore Cursor Position ANSI code (ESC[xxxxxH, ESC[xA, ESC[xB, ESC[xC, ESC[xD, ESC[s, and ESC[u) MUST NOT be used or TurboCHAT will read the file incorrectly! If you are using TheDraw, you can ensure that no cursor position changes are made by running SETUP.EXE and setting the Maximum ANSI Line Length to NONE (press U). For the message editor, you can edit TCEDSCR.DAT to make a semi-custom screen. However, you may ONLY display text on the top 4 lines and line number 24, as the rest of the screen is required for the editor text. (You *ARE* permitted to use cursor position changes in TCEDSCR.DAT). The following control codes can be used: @SYSOPCENTERxx@ Inserts the SysOp's name, and centers it according to "xx". "xx" is the maximum width of the field you wish to use. For example, placing: -----------[@SYSOPCENTER26@]----------- in your file would display: -----------[ Your SysOp ]----------- The width between the brackets ([ & ]) is 26, the number we specified above. @SYSOPLEFTxx@ Inserts the SysOp's name, and left-justifies it according to "xx". "xx" is the maximum width of the field you wish to use. For example, placing: -----------[@SYSOPLEFT26@]----------- in your file would display: -----------[Your SysOp ]----------- The width between the brackets ([ & ]) is 26, the number we specified above. @SYSOPRIGHTxx@ Inserts the SysOp's name, and right-justifies it according to "xx". "xx" is the maximum width of the field you wish to use. For example, placing: -----------[@SYSOPRIGHT26@]----------- in your file would display: -----------[ Your SysOp]----------- The width between the brackets ([ & ]) is 26, the number we specified above. @USERCENTERxx@ These three work exactly as the @SYSOP control @USERLEFTxx@ codes do, except they insert the User's name in- @USERRIGHTxx@ stead of the SysOp's. @TCVER@ Inserts the version # of TurboCHAT (i.e. 2.60b). @SUBJCENTERxx@ These three Work exactly as the @SYSOP and @USER @SUBJLEFTxx@ control codes do, except they insert the page rea- @SUBJRIGHTxx@ son instead of a name. @FC@ This can ONLY be used in TCEDITOR.SCR. If this is placed at the VERY BEGINNING of the line, the rest of the line will be displayed using FunkyChat. In the CHAT screens ONLY (not TCEDITOR.SCR), you *MUST* specify the chat window dimensions. This is done by adding the following codes to the *.SCR files wherever you want the boundaries to be: (ASCII 001) Specify the TOP LEFT corner of the SysOp's window. (ASCII 002) Specify the BOTTOM RIGHT corner of the SysOp's window. (ASCII 003) Specify the TOP LEFT corner of the user's window. (ASCII 004) Specify the BOTTOM RIGHT corner of the user's window. For example: ┌─ The top left corner of the SysOp's window. │ │ ┌──────────────────┐ └>│ │ │ │ │ │<── The bottom right corner of the SysOp's window. └──────────────────┘ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌>│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │<── The bottom right corner of the user's window. │ └──────────────────┘ │ └─ The top left corner of the user's window Also, in CHAT screens only (not TCEDSCR.DAT), the FIRST LINE of the file *MUST* be the following: UseClearEOL=Yes,InfoX=17,InfoY=23,InfoFore=15,InfoBack=1,CenterInfo=Yes UseClearEOL When clearing a window, should the ENTIRE line be erased? Clearing is MUCH faster if this option is turned on. However, with some screens, you might not want the ENTIRE line cleared (i.e. if you have a box around the window, portions of the box will be erased as well as the text!) InfoX The "X" coordinate (1-80) where info such as "SysOp has shelled to DOS" should be displayed. InfoY The "Y" coordinate (1-23) where info such as "SysOp has shelled to DOS" should be displayed. InfoFore The foreground color of the info displayed. InfoBack The background color of the info displayed. CenterInfo Should info such as "SysOp has shelled to DOS" be centered? The field size is 46 characters. Centered: -[ SysOp has shelled to DOS... ]- Uncentered: -[SysOp has shelled to DOS... ]- Not too difficult, once you get used to it! Just play around with it a bit & you should be able to get the hang of it fairly easily... :-) └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─┤█▓▒░ Non-ANSI Users ░▒▓█├───────────────────────────────────────────────┐ TurboCHAT, like most of the Mikerosoft Productions, is centered around ANSI graphics. Users who do not support ANSI graphics will only be presented with a small line-chat, and the only page tune available will be the RemoteAccess style page, regardless of which page style has been chosen in setup. If the RA style page file is not found, a default file will be created. └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─┤█▓▒░ TurboCHAT Page Override ░▒▓█├──────────────────────────────────────┐ If a user pages outside of paging hours, he will receive a message tell- ing him of that problem. However, if his security level is specified in TCSetup's Page Override menu, he will be asked if he wishes to attempt to override paging hours. If he chooses to, he will be asked for the password (specified by YOU in TCSetup), and, if he gets it right, he will be allowed to page. If, however, his security level is NOT spec- ified, he will not be allowed to override. └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─┤█▓▒░ TurboCHAT Message Editor ░▒▓█├─────────────────────────────────────┐ When a user pages and receives no answer (due to paging with scroll-lock on, paging outside of paging hours, or just not being answered by the SysOp), TurboCHAT will now ask the user if he/she would like to leave a message to the SysOp. If he/she answers YES, TurboCHAT will load it's built-in message editor (which contains all the features of an indepen- dant message editor) and allow the user to enter a message. The editor currently supports Hudson, Squish, Jam and EzyCom message bases, as they are the only message base formats that I am aware of. └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─┤█▓▒░ TurboCHAT SimDOS ░▒▓█├─────────────────────────────────────────────┐ Tired of putting your users on hold while you drop to DOS to look for a file, or copy it into a download directory, or another simple DOS task? Well, take the user WITH you next time you shell! SimDOS simulates most of the internal DOS features included in COMMAND.COM, and allows the user to drop to DOS *WITH* you, so he can see what you're doing, and enter commands from his side too. The only drawback to SimDOS is that you cannot actually run executable software -- any attempt to do so will result in an error message. However, the features that it includes are: CD - Changes directory CHKDSK - Simulates CHKDSK.EXE CLS - Clears the screen COPY - Copies one or more files DEL - Deletes one or more files DIR - Displays a list of files and/or directories EXIT - Returns to normal chat mode MD - Makes a directory MEM - Simulates MEM.EXE MOVE - Moves one or more files RD - Removes a directory REN - Renames a file TYPE - Types a text file VER - Displays TurboCHAT version <d>: - Changes drive, where <d> is the drive letter * NOTE: SimDOS can ONLY be invoked by the SysOp, who must press Alt+D to fire it up. The user has no access to SimDOS whatsoever until the SysOp invokes it in this fashion. * Loading SimDOS upon Startup If you wish to have TurboCHAT startup in SimDOS mode automatically (you might want to have a seperate menu option to do this in your SysOp menu, to allow a remote user to do file maintenance, etc. on your computer when you're not around), use the /LSIMDOS parameter when you invoke TurboCHAT. WARNING: The /LSIMDOS parameter will load SimDOS immediately, and will give the person online FULL ACCESS to the DOS commands. Make SURE that only trustworthy users have access to this or some- one might go on a deleting spree and erase your hard drive! └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─┤█▓▒░ Registration ░▒▓█├─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ This program is freeware. No fee will be charged for the use of it, and no enhancer key applies to it. If you really like this program, try registering one of our other doors, or donating to Mikerosoft BBS. └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌─┤█▓▒░ Program Information ░▒▓█├──────────────────────────────────────────┐ TurboCHAT was started in Turbo Pascal v6.0 and finished in Turbo Pascal v7.0. The first public copy was released on May 25, 1994, through Mikerosoft BBS. Need help, want to make a comment, or want to get the latest versions of our software? See DISTRIB.TXT for info! └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘