ChatterBox V1.0 By Greg Ratajik, 1993 CompuServe: 74555,542 Genie : GRATAJIK Voice : (803)/741-1673 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ChatterBox is a Public Domain program. You may copy and use ChatterBox as many times as you like, in any way that you like. All I ask is that you keep this file with the executable, and that you do not modify the executable in any way. If you have any questions, comments, ideas, etc, feel free to contact me. I'm always looking for ways to improve my software! This software is strictly "as-is", use at your own risk. ------------------------------------------------------------------- I. General ChatterBox allows you to enter a message that will be displayed on anyone's computer that is running ChatterBox, on your LAN. The original idea for ChatterBox was a program that displayed and change cute little sayings on your screen, based on text in file. This just carries the idea another step. I've found ChatterBox useful for sending non-critical messages, and those that not everyone MUST see, to other people that I work with. (i.e. If someone brings a cake in for everyone, you don't really need an actual electronic message sent out, you really don't want to annoy everyone with a Net Message, but something non-intrusive like ChatterBox is just right.) II. Operation of ChatterBox To send a message, Click on the ChatterMouth pushbutton. This will bring up the Send Pop-up. Type in whatever message you like, and click on the send pushbutton. If you are on an IBM-LAN, everyone on that LAN will see the message you types on their Chatter Screen. If you are just local, only you will see the message. To control the speed and Beeps of ChatterBox, click on the ChatterEye pushbutton. This will bring up the Control Pop-Up. From this pop-up, you can change the scroll speed by selecting a new number in the speed combo-box. (0 is stopped, 10 is the fastest, etc.) If you want to change what tone beep you hear when a new message comes in, click on the ChatterSound pushbutton. For information on ChatterBox, click on the ChatterInfo pushbutton. III. Technical Information. ChatterBox was writtin and tested using: 486DX 33 Mhz Clone SuperVGA Monitor IBM OS/2 Lan requester 1.3 CSD 5050 OS/2 1.3 This has also been run on machines and OS's other than the above configuration (Including under OS/2 2.1, OS/2 2.0, and several beta's between). If you're using something other than SuperVGA, some of the custom pushbuttons may be slightly off (but still usable.) ChatterBox uses something called a MailSlot. These Mailslots are available to anyone with a IBM LAN card on their machine. You don't have to be logged on to a LAN for ChatterBox to work. Mailslot are the same thing that Net Messaging uses to send messages. As you may know, their is no way to guarantee that a broadcast message is received. While under normal conditions I have not had a problem with ChatterBox users not getting messages, it is possible for them to get lost en- route, or overwritten if there is a lot of local traffic to the same mailslot. This is, unfortunately, a limit of the technology being used. If you have a problem getting messages, you can increase the NUMDGRAMBUF parameter in your IBMLAN.INI file. This increases available Local Mailslot space, and may alleviate some local traffic problems. IV. Other IBM-LAN Based software on it's way.... o NetChat - This program allows many users to have Chat sessions over the LAN. It allows each user to set up Conference groups and security levels. Each Conference can have as many users as you want Chatting. This is similar to CompuServer's CB, or a BBS's multi-node chat area. o NetMail - Improved net messaging (i.e. "Blue Boxes") This program gives you better control of system level LAN messages. You can enter message subjects, set priority levels, and type in longer messages. NetMail allows each user to set up their own message groups, along with global message groups. Each user can choose which groups to receive messages from, and what groups to send messages to. NetMail also let's you choose whether to get the message in the traditional VIO BlueBox (but better looking!), a PM Message Box, or to display no message but to retrieve it at a latter time. This program makes Net Messaging easier to use, and less annoying to the recipients.