GammaTech Internet Relay Chat Demo Version 1.04 November 26, 1995 This package contains the demo version of the GammaTech Internet Relay Chat software. This IRC client is a Presentation Manager application which brings a unique graphical user interface to the OS/2 IRC enthusiast. A few of the features of this software are shown below: Presentation Manager GUI interface. Script support via REXX. Customer definable CTCP response replies. Cut, Copy and Paste support. Resizable windows with automatic text wrapping. Automatically updated list of users on a channel. Separate windows for each channel. Separate windows for query sessions with other users. Scroll back buffer for each output window. Toolbar configurable with user specified commands. Popup menues for ease of use. Color coding of nick names, your nick name, etc. Notification of incoming CTCP commands. User definable lists of favorite channels and nicknames. DCC Chat and Send support. DCC Get is automated. Session logging and tracing support. Support for new server features such as /Silence and UserMode +d. Many customer configurable options. Beep while Away support. Session time display for each channel and query. Internal protection from several forms of IRC harassments. Complete documentation including an IRC primer. Online help for all supported IRC commands. And of course, much much more :-) Note: This may be the last demonstration version released for the GammaTech IRC client. The commercial version will continue to be updated from time to time. For this reason, the commercial version may contain features and enhancements not found in the demo. You may contact SofTouch Systems at 1-800-944-3028 to acquire the latest commercial version and marketing literature. System requirements: OS/2 Warp with the Internet Access Kit installed. Connectivity to an Internet Service Provider. Enhancements: A list of corrective service and enhancements in this release may be found at the end of this file. Documentation Errata Page 6 - The bullet items near the bottom of the page contains the text "scrolls through last five executed commands". The word "five" should now read "twenty five". A new toolbar icon has been added to toggle the new Nick List window on or off. See below for more information on the Nick List feature. The current time and the online time is now displayed in the right status area for the control window and channel and query windows. The time online for the control window is the time GtIrc has been executing. For channels and queries the time online is the time that window was created. i.e. Since you joined the channel or started the query. The times are in hours and minutes. Page 7 - Keystroke Commands - Add the following paragraph: Esc - Clears any text in the input window. Page 8 - Keystroke Commands - Add the following paragraph: Ctrl-Up and Ctrl-Down cause the output window to be scrolled up or down one line respectfully. Page 8 - Keystroke Commands - Replace the paragraph for Ctrl-PageUp and Ctrl-PageDown with the following paragraph: Ctrl-PageUp and Ctrl-PageDown cause the output window to be scrolled up or down one page respectfully. Page 10 - The following options have been added to the Names popup menu: PING, USERHOST, VERSION, WHO, WHOIS. This popup menu is also available by clicking mouse button 2 in the Nick List window. Page 11 - The Settings Dialog has changed. Novice mode has been eliminated altogether so the Novice check box has been removed. A new CTCP Dialog has been added and the CTCP Notify checkbox and the User Information entry field have been moved from the Settings Dialog to the new CTCP Dialog. See below for more information on the CTCP Dialog. Page 11 - The Settings Dialog no longer contains Log File items. Session logging is now done in a different manner. See details in the section for logging below. Page 16 - The Colors Dialog now permits setting a unique color for the nickname portion of a private message to you. For additional information regarding this feature, see the Colors Dialog and the help panel for that dialog. A new option has been added to the Colors Dialog which allows you to specify a list of words, separated by spaces, to be highlighted in the output display. See the Colors Dialog help for a full description of this feature. Page 24 - Add the following user mode option to the list: d - Deaf mode. Public messages for channels are suppressed. Page 44 - The /ME command is valid when entered in a channel or a query window. Page 45 - Add the following user mode option to the list: d - Deaf mode. Public messages for channels are suppressed. Page 45 - Add the following text after the user mode options: If Wallops messages are requested using the +w user mode the Wallops messages will be displayed in the Control output window only. Page 59 - Glossary - Add the following acronymn: re - Hello again. From re-hello. Features not documented in the printed manual currently: A dynamic nickname list has been added but not yet documented in the printed manual. This Nick List is a subwindow of each of the channel output windows. A new toolbar icon has been added to show or hide this Mick List window. In addition, a new option has been added to the Preferences Dialog to specify if you want to initially show the Nick List window when you join a channel. The Nick List window has a popup menu selectable by pressing mouse button 2 in the window. This popup menu has several usefull options on it. Note that the Nick List window is updated automatically. If a nickname in the channel window Nick List is selected, the user may double click mouse button 1 in the input area and the selected nickname will be pasted into the input area at the cursor location. A new CTCP Options Dialog has been added under the Options menu item. This dialog is not documented in the printed manual. All options on this dialog are described in the help available from this dialog. The CTCP Notify and User Information options formerly found on the Settings Dialog have been moved to this new dialog. In addition options have been added to have CTCP notification messages sent to the current window as well as the control window. Options have also been added to allow the customer to provide substitution text for the replies to the following CTCP queries: Client Info, Echo, Ping, Time, and Finger. In the case of Ping and Echo, the substitution text is sent as well as the normal response. Presently the Preferences Dialog and the options specified on it are not documented in the printed manual. The online help is up to date. Please refer to the online help for details on these features. Information regarding REXX script support is not documented in the printed manual. Refer to the help information from the Preferences dialog for information regarding using scripts. Two sample scripts are provided with the names of rexxcmd.cmd and rexxmsg.cmd. In addition the RFC-1459 document has been included. Several new commands have been added which are not documented in the printed manual. For details on these commands please refer to the online Command Help. The new commands are: /MAP /CLEAR /CTCP /LOG /IRCTRACE /NL /SILENCE Some commands have alias names assigned. /ME has aliases of /ACTION and /ACT /MSG has an alias of /M /SIGNOFF has an alias of /SIGN Log file settings have been removed from the Settings Dialog. Each window may now have it's own log file. A new command has been added to turn logging on and off (/LOG). Log files now have timestamps on each line and a header line for the log. In addition there is a toolbar icon to open and close the log file. See the help for the /LOG command for detailed information. Incoming DCC CHAT or SEND requests cause a dialog box to open for the GtIrc client. You may examine the information there and then either accept the offer or refuse it. If the request is a SEND request you may also change the target file name and location. DCC requests will be automatically ignored if a invalid port number is sent. In addition, if 5 or more DCC requests are pending all additional DCC requests will be ignored and the user notified of the event in the control window and the current window. This provides you with some protection from DCC flooders attempting to harass you while you are online. Using the GammaTech IRC Client: If you are accustomed to using text mode IRC clients you will likely need to review the documentation file regarding using the GammaTech IRC Client. The GUI interface of the GammaTech IRC Client is quite different from other text mode clients. Problems that some new users may encounter include: * Attempting to enter certain IRC commands before joining a channel. * Not understanding how message traffic is dispatched to the various IRC windows. Reviewing the documentation will cut your learning curve significantly. Many of the windows have pop-up menues available for various functions. To call up the pop-up menu for a given window, click mouse button 2 in the window area. The demo version of the GammaTech Internet Relay Chat client is a full featured version of the commercial product. The following differences and restrictions apply: Full technical support is provided for the commercial product. Electronic access for defects will be made available for the commercial product. No support is provided for the demo. Documentation is provided with the demo in a text file. The commercial version provides a printed manual and of course a diskette. The commercial product also provides a installation program and a registration form. This demo and the commercial product are not shareware. The demo is intended to show the features of the product so you may make an informed decision as to licensing the commercial product. This demo version permits unlimited use of all features of the product except that this demo version permits only 30 minutes of connect time per IRC session. Warning messages are issued at 20 minutes and 28 minutes. You will be signed off of IRC at 30 minutes. You may then restart the program and reconnect for another 30 minutes. To install the demo: 1. Go to an OS/2 command line prompt. 2. Create a directory for the demo files. 3. Unzip the gtirc102.zip file into the new directory. 4. From the new directory, run the makeicon.cmd file. It will ask you for the drive and path of the demo directory and create a program object on your desktop for the GammaTech Internet Relay Chat executable. To execute the demo IRC program: 1. Establish a connection with your Internet Service Provider. 2. Double click on the icon. A text file version of the documentation is provided with the file name gtirc.doc. Even if you are an experienced IRC user you should review the following sections: The IRC Window The Title Bar The Menu Bar The Output Window The Toolbar The Input Window The Popup Menu Message Routing Note that Installation and Corrective Service is not applicable to the demo version. The first time you start the IRC client, the Settings dialog will be displayed. If you are an experienced user of IRC you will likely know how to set these fields. Otherwise, you will find additional information on each field in the online help and in the documentation under Configuring the IRC Client. Availability and pricing: The commercial product is available now. Orders may be placed directly with SofTouch Systems (800) 944-3028 or through most OS/2 software resellers. The suggested retail price is $49.95 U.S. An introductory price of $39.95 is available through Dec. 31, 1995. Shipping charges will vary depending on the supplier and your location. Prices are subject to change without notice. GammaTech products are available from most OS/2 resellers. It is anticipated that GammaTech Internet Relay Chat will be available from any of these sources. You may order direct from the manufacturer, SofTouch Systems immediately. A couple of other sources are shown below. Other sources may be obtained from SofTouch Systems. SofTouch Systems (800) 944-3028 Fax (405) 632-6537 Indelible Blue (800) 776-8284 Fax (919) 878-7479 OS/2 Express (800) 672-5945 Fax (612) 823-6267 Upgrade path: As with all GammaTech products, corrective service is provided from time to time without charge. Corrective service for GammaTech Internet Relay Chat will be made available via anonymous FTP as well as CompuServe. It is GammaTech's policy to offer any upgrades to it's products to registered customers at a reduced rate. Free upgrades are normally made available to customers purchasing the product within a grace period preceding availability of a new release of that product. Internet distribution of corrective service will be provided by anonymous ftp to ftp.ionet.net under the /pub/gammatech directory. This is the only official ftp site and it is recommended that this site be used instead of other common OS/2 ftp sites. The versions found on ftp.ionet.net will always be current and integrity is assured. Other sites may have obsolete versions posted under names similar to the current distribution names. Copyright: Copyright GammaTech, Inc. 1995. All Rights Reserved. This software is owned by GammaTech, Inc. and is protected by United States copyright laws, trade secret laws and international treaty provisions. The demo version of this software may be freely copied and distributed provided that the entire package is copied and distributed without modifications. Limited Warranty: LIMITED WARRANTY. This software is inherently complex and may not be error-free. THE SOFTWARE IS NOT WARRANTED AND IS PROVIDED "AS IS". THIS WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF OR LIMITATIONS ON IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THIS LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. LIMITED LIABILITY. GAMMATECH WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IN NO CASE SHALL GAMMATECH'S LIABILITY EXCEED THE LICENSE FEE PAID FOR THE RIGHT TO USE THE SOFTWARE. Changes and Enhancements in Version 1.04 Correct trap which occurs occassionally when using the mouse to scroll down in the output window. Added Ping and Version options to the Nick List / Names popup menu. We now format Wallops messages and display them in the control window. The following command alias have been added: /M is an alias of /MSG /SIGN is an alias of /SIGNOFF /ACTION and /ACT are aliases of /ME Corrected the response given for the /IGNORE command. Added the IrcRexxWildCard() internal REXX function for easy wildcard matching in REXX scripts. Correct problem where a window is not repositioned correctly after a miximize and restore operation. Renamed the sample scripts to have *.cmd extenstions to make command line testing easier. Added a new /NL command which toggles the Nicklist window on and off in channel windows. Added the ability to set REXX variables using the /REXXVAR command. These variables can be checked by the scripts and perform processing based on their values. The sample scripts have been updated to reflect this ability. Correct problem where last message does not always show in the output window immediately. Log file settings have been removed from the Settings Dialog. Each window may now have it's own log file. A new command has been added to turn logging on and off (/LOG). Log files now have timestamps on each line and a header line for the log. In addition there is a toolbar icon to open and close the log file. See the help for the /LOG command for detailed information. Added a new /IRCTRACE command to trace raw IRC message traffic. Support for the /SILENCE command has been added. A new option has been added to the Preferences Dialog to allow supression of Mode change messages for nicks and channels. A new option has been added to the Preferences Dialog to allow supression of nickname changes. A new option has been added to the Preferences Dialog to allow you to be beeped when you receive a private message and you are marked as away via the /AWAY command. A new option has been added to the Preferences Dialog to include the user@host of a nickname to the message you receive when they join the channel. This option is the the default so if you do not wish to use this feature you will need to uncheck the option. A new option has been added to the Preferences Dialog which causes an automatic /USERHOST command to be issued when a nickname in you Notify list connects to IRC. This feature permits you to verify that the nickname is who you expect by displaying their user@host. Pressing the ESC key will now erase the input area. Added menu options to the NickList popup menu to give or take channel operator status to a nickname. Added menu options to the NickList popup menu to execute a /Ignore all on a nickname. The /ME or /ACTION command may now be used in query windows. Correct problem where Notify checks stop working under certain conditions. The output window display may now be scrolled using the Ctrl-Up, Ctrl-Down, Ctrl-PageUp and Ctrl-PageDown keys. The user definable toolbar functions now accept 256 bytes of text instead of 100. Documented the deaf user mode option (d). Notification messages regarding CTCP requests to your client have been modified to show if the request was to your client alone or were broadcast to a entire channel. If the request was broadcast, the channel name is shown after the nickname of he who requested the information. Correct problem where focus is not set back to the input window after a nickname is selected in the nicklist or the nicklist scroll bar is used. The current time and the online time is now displayed in the right status area for the control window and channel and query windows. The time online for the control window is the time GtIrc has been executing. For channels and queries the time online is the time that window was created. i.e. Since you joined the channel or started the query. The times are in hours and minutes. CTCP overrides for PING and ECHO now send the normal response as well as the desired message. Other overrides still send the desired message instead of the normal response. Added additional protection logic to protect against DCC attacks. DCC requests will be automatically ignored if a invalid port number is sent. In addition, if 5 or more DCC requests are pending all additional DCC requests will be ignored and the user notified of the event in the control window and the current window. Changes and Enhancements in Version 1.03 REXX script support added. This feature is accessible from the Preferences Dialog. A knowledge of REXX programming is assumed. Sample scripts are provided with the names of REXXMSG.SCR and REXXCMD.SCR. A copy of the IRC RFC 1459 is also included. Add support for the /MAP command. See the online command help for the syntax and use of the /MAP command. Correct problem where the focus is not placed in a newly created query window when the query is started from the query dialog. Added the /CLEAR command to clear the output window. Added a dynamic nickname list as a subwindow of the channel output windows. A new toolbar icon has been added to show or hide this Mick List window. In addition, a new option has been added to the Preferences Dialog to specify if you want to initially show the Nick List window when you join a channel. The Nick List window has a popup menu selectable by pressing mouse button 2 in the window which gives the same popup menu as found in the /NAMES window. Note that the Nick List window is updated automatically. If a nickname in the channel window Nick List is selected, the user may double click mouse button 1 in the input area and the selected nickname will be pasted into the input area at the cursor location. Added menu options for /USERHOST /WHO and /WHOIS to the Names window popup menu selections. Added a cancel button to the Preferences Dialog box. The timestamp in ban list displays is now formatted if there is one. Novice mode has been removed. A new CTCP Options dialog has been provided under the Options menu item. The CTCP Notify and User Information items on the Settings Dialog have been moved to this new dialog. A new option is now provided on the CTCP Options dialog which allows CTCP notification messages to be sent to the current window as well as the main window. Options have been added via the CTCP Options Dialog to allow you to provide substitution text for the replies to the following CTCP queries: Client Info, Echo, Ping, Time, and Finger. Revised the default color assignments. A new option has been added to the Colors Dialog which allows you to specify a list of words, separated by spaces, to be highlighted in the output display. See the Colors Dialog help for a full description of this feature. Correct problem where help was not available on initial Settings or Connect Dialogs when processed on initialization. Changes and Enhancements in Version 1.02: Added receive error recovery logic. Changed "Connection closed by server" message to "Connection Closed". We now reset the status 2 area when changing servers. Server hand offs to other servers are now reported correctly in the status area. Multi line pastes into the input area are now handled correctly. In addition, extraneous characters are now discarded (\r and \n). Corrected problem where ops changes did not update the status area. The ability now exists to assign a unique color to nicknames which appear in private messages. Added support for the /CTCP command. See the online help for command CTCP for the description and syntax. Correct trap when excessive information is entered in the input window resulting in memory corruption. Added a Preferences Dialog under the Options Menu item. This new dialog allows the user to select several custom settings regarding IRC processing. These new options are described below. For detailed information click the Help button on the Preferences Dialog. Automatic nickname resolution. When a nickname collision occurs during server connection, a new nickname is generated to avoid the collision. Nickname highlighting may now be disabled. The ability to suppress join, leave and signoff messages. Selection for each individual type is supported. The ability to sort or not sort the nicknames displayed in the Names window is now provided. The ability has been added to alert the user via a beep when a message is displayed in a minimized window. The ability to execute a /command at server connect time is now provided. If it is desired to execute more than one command, they may be placed in a text file and the /RUN command specified in the Startup Command field to execute the commands in the text file. The command recall stack has been increased from 5 to 25 entries. The connect dialog list of servers is no longer sorted. The customer may arrange the list in the order they prefer by adding and deleting entries. This change is in preparation for other planned enhancments. If an attempt is made to close the Control window while other channel or query windows are open, the customer will be asked if they are sure they wish to signoff IRC. If no other channel or query windows are open, the prompt is not issued nor is it issued if the customer signs off using the /QUIT command or it's equivalents. Reworked the reply to a CTCP Version request.