Index
 Agora for the Internet

Help contents

Agora overview

How to ...

 Set up a private chat

 Set up or take part in a forum

Commands

 File menu

 Edit menu

 Functions menu

 Windows menu

 Help menu

Agora for the Internet is a chat software between Internet sites. It can be used with local area networks that support TCP/IP and Windows Sockets (Winsocks).

WINSOCK.DLL must be accessible from Agora.


File menu commands
File menu

The File menu displays following commands:

 New client	Set up a conversation with an active server or forum.

 New server	Set up a server on the local site.

 New forum	Set up a forum on the local site.

 Cancel this...	Cancel a connection, a server or a forum.

 Exit	Exit Agora program.


Edit menu commands
Edit menu

The Edit menu displays following commands:

 Undo	Undo last operation.

 Cut	Delete selection and put it in the clipboard.

 Copy	Copy the selection in the clipboard.

 Paste	Replace the selection by the content of the clipboard.


Functions menu commands
Functions menu

The Functions menu displays the following command:

 Wake up	Ring a bell at the recipient site.


Windows menu commands
Windows menu

The Windows menu displays following commands:

 Cascade	Cascade all open windows.

 Tile	Tile all open windows.

 Arrange	Arange icons on the bottom of the main window.

 View toolbar	Show or hide.the toolbar under the menu.

 View status bar	Show or hide the status bar at the bottom of the window.

 Window 1, 2, ...	Activate the corresponding windows.


Help menu commands
Help menu

The Help menu displays following commands:

 Index	List all the subjects of help.

 Use help	Display instructions to use Windows Help.

 About	Display.informations about Agora.


Connection, client
New client command (File menu)

Use this command to set up a new link with its associated separate window. Agora allow you to set up a private conversation or to join a forum.

A private conversation allow two users to chat together. The one wich accepts the link (the recipient) must have activated a server (see New server command). The requester contacts the server and the server creates a client window to allow the recipient to chat.

A forum is a conversation between multiple members. Several clients send messages to the forum and the forum forwards them to all other members. Every forwarded message is labeled with the sender nickname. A forum can be activated on any site (see New forum command). When the forum is canceled (see Cancel this forum command), all members are notified and disconnected.

New client command displays New client dialog box.


New client dialog box

 Server

Enter the name of the site where the server or the forum to connect to is active.

The name is the complete domain name or the IP address, i.e:

rtfm.mit.edu	Tilburg University, The Netherlands

192.134.200.165	Robert Denoue, LAN IP address

 Nickname

Choose a nickname that will identify the client at the recipient or at the members side. Nickname is limited to 9 characters.

 Port

Enter the requested port number. It is the port number associated at the remote side with the server or the forum you want to reach. Several servers or forums can be active at the remote side, the port number selects one of them. The New client command will adapt the new connection according to the type of recipient.

The default port number for a server or a forum is 4242. If the requested server or forum does not use the default port value, you must ask to the owner for this port number before to begin connection process

Errors:

 Agora does not know how to connect to this site.

The site name cannot be recognized by the resolution function.

 If you are on the Internet, the name you enter is incorrect. The name is not registered in the DNS server.

 If you are on a LAN, the name you enter is not registered in the Hosts file. Contact your network administrator to update this file.

If you know the corresponding IP address, you can enter it in place of the name, the resolution function will not be invoked.

 Server does not accept the connection.

The link cannot be established with the remote site because:

 Agora is inactive at the remote site. The recipient must set up a server to listen for incoming calls.

 Agora is active at the remote site but there is no server listening at the port number you enter. Try an other port number or ask the recipient the correct one.

Toolbar:


Connection, server
New server command (File menu)

Use this command to set up a new local server to listen to incoming calls from external clients (see New client command).

The server owns its associate window. Agora allows to run multiple servers at a time. Each server serves a single port and answers only to incoming calls on this port

When an incoming call occurs from an external client, the server creates a new local client window to allow conversation.

When the local server is canceled (see Cancel this server command), current conversations are not interrupted, but subsequent connections will not be accepted on the port previously served by the canceled server

The New server command display the New server dialog box.


New server dialog box

 Nickname

Choose a nickname that will identify the server at the requester side. Nickname is limited to 9 characters.

 Port

Enter the port number that the server will serve. Several servers or forums can be active at same site. Each of them serves only the incoming calls arriving to the associated port number.

The default port number for the first activated server or forum is 4242. It will be incremented for the next servers or forums. If the user does not keep the default port value, he must notify potential clients the correct one they must use to connect him.

Don't use port number 0-1023 because they are reserved to specific usages by Internet standards.

Error:

 This port is already in use.

The port is already used by an Agora server or forum or by another application. Change the port value for the new server.

Toolbar :


Connection, forum
New forum command (File menu)

Use this command to set up a new local forum to listen to incoming calls from external clients (see New client command).

The forum owns its associate window. Agora allows to run multiple forums at a time. Each forum serves a single port and answers only to incoming calls on this port.

When an incoming call occurs from an external client, the forum always accepts the new member. There is no new window created. Every message received from a member is forwarded to the other members. A forum allow several members to chat together.

The forum notify every member when a new member is accepted and when a previous member quits the forum.

When the local forum is canceled (see Cancel this forum command), current members are notified and disconnected and subsequent connections will not be accepted on the port previously served by the canceled forum.

The command New forum display the New forum dialog box.


New forum dialog box

 Nickname

Choose a nickname that will identify the forum to the members. Nickname is limited to 9 characters.

 Port

Enter the port number that the forum will serve. Several servers or forums can be active at same site. Each of them serves only the incoming calls arriving to the associated port number.

The default port number for the first activated server or forum is 4242. It will be incremented for the next servers or forums. If the user does not keep the default port value, he must notify potential members the correct one they must use to connect him.

Don't use port number 0-1023 because they are reserved to specific usages by Internet standards.

Error:

 This port is already in use.

The port is already used by an Agora server or forum or by another application. Change the port value for the new forum.

Toolbar :


Disconnection
Cancel this ... (File menu)

This text varies according to the active window:

 Cancel this client or

 Cancel this server or

 Cancel this forum

Use this command to close a client, server, or forum window.

 Canceling a client

The conversation with the remote side is ended, the recipient is notified, the window is closed.

 Canceling a server

The port previously managed by the server is released, the window is closed.

The previously accepted conversations (see New client command) are not interrupted.

Subsequent incoming calls will not be accepted until a new server is activated (see New server command), unless other servers are active on other ports, but in this case the client must connect to these ports.

 Canceling a forum

All the members of the forum are disconnected, the port is released and the window is closed.

Subsequent incoming calls will not be accepted until a new forum is activated (see New forum command), unless other forums are active on other ports, but in this case the member must connect to these ports.

Toolbar :


Exit Agora
Exit command (File menu)

Use this command to quit Agora application. You can also use the Close system box option.

All the clients and members are disconnected and notified, servers and forums are closed and the corresponding ports are released.

Mouse	Double click on the system box

Keyboard	ALT+F4


Client window

Each Agora connection is separate from the others, and has its own window: the client window.

The client window has two parts:

 Upper zone is reserved to display the messages received from the other user (in case of induvidual link) or the other users (in case of forum link). The applications messages are also oriented to this area. Display zone is read only.

 Lower zone is reserved to enter text from the keyboard to send it to the other user or to the forum. Type text, then press ENTER key to send it. The text will be transmitted and echoed to the upper zone, and the lower zone will be erased.

The relative size of the zones can be adjusted with the mobile splitter bar using the mouse. The two scrolling bar are independant.

Window title is composed with the nickname of the other user or of the forum followed by the link state (connection, connected, timed out, disconnected). The normal state is connected.

Edit menu can be used to cut, copy or paste some text between differents parts of the window or with another application.

A client window is opened when the user selects New client in File menu or when a local server receive a connection request from a remote client.


Server window

The server listens for connection requests. The server window records all requests, accepted or denied.

The title bar show the port number associated with the server and the state of the server. Normal state is Listening.

A server window is opened after each server activation using New server command of the File menu.


Forum window

The forum window receive messages from each client of the forum and La fenêtre forum reçoit les message de chaque participant au forum et les retransmet aux autres participants. Cette fenêtre enregistre toutes les arrivées et départs ainsi que les messages échangés.

 The left part shows the current member list.

 The tiltle bar displays the managed port number and the state of the connection. The normal state is reception.

A new forum window is opened for every new forum activated by the New forum command of the File menu.

When the forum window is closed, every members are notified and disconnected.


Undo an action
Undo command (Edit menu)

Use this command to undo the last action, if possible.

Keyboard:	CTRL+Z or

ALT-BACKSPACE


Cut text
Cut command (Edit menu)

Use this command to delete the selection and to put it in the clipboad. It is not avalaible if there is no current selection.

The selection replaces previous content of the clipboard.

Keyboard:	CTRL+Z

Toolbar:


Copy some text
Copy command (Edit menu)

Use this command to copy the selection into the clipboard. It is not avalaible if there is no current selection.

The selection replaces previous content of the clipboard.

Keyboard	CTRL+C

Toolbar:


Paste some text
Paste command (Edit menu)

Use this command to insert clipboard content at the cursor position or to replace the current selection.

Keyboard:	CTRL+V

Toolbar:


Function: Wake up
Wake up command (Functions menu)

Use this command to sound the recipient.

The sender is notified of this action and on recipient site:

Toolbar:


Cascade windows

Cascade command (Windows menu)

Use the command to overlap opened windows..


Tile windows
Tile command (Windows menu)

Use this command to juxtapose opened windows.

Toolbar :


Arrange icons
Arrange icons command (Windows menu)

Use this command to align icons of minimized windows at the bottom of the Agora main window


Toolbar command
Toolbar command (Windows menu)

Use this command to show or hide the toolbar with groups together buttons for the most used Agora functions like New client. A mark is displayed at the left of the command name when the toolbar is displayed.

See Toolbar for help about the toolbar.


Toolbar

The toolbar is displayed at the top of the Agora window, just after the menu line. The toolbar give quick access to most frequently used functions.

To hide or show the toolbar, use the Toolbar command from the Windows menu.

Click on	To

Open a new link with a remote site

Activate a new local server

Activate a new local forum

Close a client, a server or a forum

Tile windows

Cut selection

Copy selection

Paste selection

Wake up the other user

Display informations about Agora program

Get help for an element of the window


Status bar command
Status bar command (Windows menu)

Use this command to show or hide the status bar which give information related to the selected menu commands or buttons, and to the keyboard status. A mark is displayed at the left of the name of this command when the status bar is displayed.

See Status bar command to get help about the status bar.


Status bar
Status bar command (Windows menu)

The status bar is displayed at the bottom of the Agora window.

To hide or show the status bar, use the Status bar command from the Windows menu.

The left part of the status bar give a description for menu options when cursor keys are used to navigate in the menu. This area is also used to display a text related to a selected button when this one is selected but not released. The mouse button must be released outside the button in order to avoid to execute the command associated with the button.

The right part of the status bar shows keyboard status.

Indication	Description

SHT	Shift key is locked.

NUM	Num key is locked.

SCL	Scroll lock key is locked.


Activate a window
Window 1, 2, ... command (Windows menu)

Agora display the list of existing windows : clients, servers, forums, at the end of the Windows menu.

 A mark is displayed at the left of the active window.

 Choose the window you want to make the active window.


Agora overview, presentation
Agora overview

Agora is an application that allows users to exchange messages between two or more sites connected to the Internet or to a TCP/IP local area network.

It is a "client-to-client" application, that is it does not request to run a server at a given point of the network to supervise the operations (no Unix demon). To set up a link between two PC, it is just necessary to:

 run Agora on each PC,

 activate reception on one of the PC to listen to incomming calls using New server command,

 call from the second PC using New client command.

When the connection progress is complete, each user types text which is sent to the other.

Agora allows to chat with several users using forums.

Agora use a TCP/IP stack given by sockets. WINSOCK.DLL must be accessible to Agora. A socket is a little program that manage one link end. The total number of links that can be active at a given time is a only depending of the number of sockets that can be opened simultaneously on your PC. Refer to your network administrator if you reach this limit

 Each connection request (outgoing private or forum call) use one socket on the caller site.

 A server use one socket to listen to incoming calls and, in addition, one socket for every accepted incoming call

By default, Agora use TCP port 4242. Agora allows multiple servers or forums to be active at the same time. Every server or forum use a unique port. It is suggested and given as default values, to use ports 4242, then 4243, 4244 and so on.

A client just calls a remote port. If the remote port is associated to a private server at the reception site, the client will set up a private conversation (two users), if the port is associated to a forum server, the

client will set up a forum conversation (multiple users). It is suggested to use port 4242 for a private server and port 4243 for a forum to make links set-up easier.


How to create an individual connection
How to set up a private conversation

A private Agora link joins two client-windows (requester and recipient) by way of a server. A server must be active at the recipient side.

The recipient sets up a server using New server command. During server activation, a nickname and a port number are requested.

The requester sets up a client window using New client command. command. The recipient server name is requested. It can be IP address or server name. The port number of the recipient must be given. The nickname specified by the requester will be sent to the recipient.

Agora of the requester contacts the server of the recipient (if active). The server of the recipient opens a client window and associates it the nickname of the requester. The nickname of the server is sent to the requester wich associates it the the client window.

The conversation is completed. Requester and recipient can now type text in the bottom part of their client windows. The text is sent to the other client window as the ENTER key is depressed.

When a user stop the conversation using Cancel this client command or when a network error occurs, the second user is notified. He can then conserve his inactive client window or cancel it.


How to join a forum

An Agora forum links together multiple client windows (the members) by way of a forum window. The forum is set up on a single site, it must be active to allow the connection of the first member and the next ones.

A forum is set up on the forum site using New forum command. During activation process, a nickname and a port number are requested.

Each member sets up a client window using New client command. The name of the forum site is requested. It can be IP address or server name. The port number is the one associated to the requested forum. The nickname given by the member will be sent to every other members of the forum.

Agora of the member contacts the forum server. The forum server notify all other members that there is a new member and the forum server nickname is sent to the new member.

At the site where the forum server is located, the user can join the forum, as any other member, using the special address 127.0.0.1 wich means "my own address".

The setup process is completed. Every member can send messages to the forum which forwards them to the other members and keeps a copy that can be monitered in the forum window of the forum site.

When a member uses Cancel this client command or when a network error occurs, every other member is notified by the forum server.

When the forum window is closed at the forum site by the owner using Cancel this forum command, every member is notified and disconnected. Each member can conserve the inactive client window or cancel it.


Help index
Index command (Help menu)

Use this command to display help main page. You can step from topic to topic starting at the main page.

Once help has been opened, you can come back to the main page, anytime, using Index of help.


Use help
How to use help (Help menu)

Use this command to get help for to use help.


About Agora
About Agora command... (Help menu)

Use this command to show version number of Agora.


Contextual help
 Context help

Use context help to get informations about an element of Agora window.

When context help is used, mouse pointer becomes an arrow and a question mark.

You can then click, for example, on a tool of the toolbar. Help associated with the subject is displayed.

Keyboard:	ALT+F1


No help available

No help available for this part of the window.


No help available

No help available.