Centaurus LanPopUp (Version 2.2)
Copyright (c) 2000
Centaurus Software Design, All Rights reserved
This file contains
important information about the LanPopUp program. Please read this entire file,
from top to bottom.
Table of Contents
02. General Overview
08. Program Files
09. Installation
10. Getting
Help
11. Revisions
12. Uninstalling
14. Copyright Notice, Distribution License, and Warranty
LanPopUp is an unlimited
multi-user, network peer-to-peer broadcast messaging system that is very
easy-to-use and has a simple streamlined approach to sending messages to
participating computers on a local area network. The user interface remains intuitive and uncluttered. The program
was
originally created for an elective telephone service call center, where there
was a need to convey network status information to all call center personnel.
All LanPopUp users must have full access to a fileserver folder
(LanPopUp) and the LanPopUp software must be installed on each of the
participating PC’s.
Any LanPopUp user can be set to work in one of two different modes
of operation, the Client or the Administrator.
The Client mode of operation can
only receive messages, while the Administrator mode of operation can send
and/or receive messages. The mode of
operation can easily be changed at any time, reinstalling the software is not
necessary. Messages are sent to
selected member groups or individual users.
The capability exists to setup 16 system wide groups. LanPopUp users (clients and administrators)
can be assigned to one or more groups.
A user must be logged on to receive messages; thirty-two unread messages
can remain in queue for each user.
When a message is sent,
the message is saved in the LanPopUp\Messages folder on the server, then a
broadcast message is sent to the LanPopUp users, which contains who the message
is intended for, along with the name of the message file to open. The actual message text is not sent. This keeps the broadcast message rather
small.
User profiles are not pc
dependent which enables the user to roam to different PCs and their individual
profile will follow them.
The LanPopUp program uses
the WinSock User Datagram Protocol (UDP) to send messages. This is a connectionless protocol and there
is no explicit connection. Data is sent
across the network without worrying about whether a data connection has been
made. Think of it as a radio
broadcast. The broadcaster does not
know if anyone is listening, but will still sent the signal. The recipient will only hear the broadcast
if he's tuned into the proper channel, or in our case, the port.
On all forms which
contain list boxes, you can use the Home key to bring you to the top of the
list, the End key to bring you to the bottom of the list, the Page Up or the
Page Down keys to move incrementally thru the list, or the up/down arrow keys
to move one list item at a time.
When you log on to your
computer, a note will be placed into your system tray. The color of this note indicates the current
mode of operation for the participating PC.
Red indicates the Client mode, and Blue indicates Administrator
mode. Left clicking on this icon will
bring up the LanPopUp program.
Admin Mode Only:
To select a menu item on
the menu bar with the keyboard, press ALT key to select the menu bar and
the letter that is underlined in the menu name that contains the command you
want. In the menu that appears, press
the letter underlined in the command name that you want.
By placing your mouse
over the icons on the tool bar, you will receive information on the command
button function. These icons are: New
Message, Save Message, Save Message, Clear Message, Print Message; send or
message, Cut Text, Copy Text, Paste Text, Delete Text, Message Stamp Text, Font
Size, Font Color, Set Bold, Set Italic, Set Underline, Left Justify, Center
Justify, Right Justify, Send Message, and Exit.
There are
several special control keys. These are
as follows:
Ctrl+Alt+S Global
System Setup: UDP Socket, Message Retention Days, User Groups,
Users (Login Names, User Name, Notify Mode
(Flash Task or Set Foreground), User Mode (Client or Admin), and Add to User
Send List. (Admin and Client mode)
Ctrl+Alt+X Unloads
the local LanPopUp program. (Admin and Client mode)
Ctrl+Alt+C System Control: (affects all pc’s that
have LanPopUp loaded) Unloads LanPopUp, Force User Log-Off, Force Computer
Reboot, and Force Computer Shut Down.
These operations can be performed on selected groups or users. Use with caution, a password is required.
(Admin mode only)
You can set the
local User Defaults: These are the message
text which is used whenever sending a new message (Font size, color, bold,
italic), Text Stamp (for signing your name), Incoming message sound, Selected
send message type (Groups or Users)
Enter the system setup
mode by using the control key sequence “Ctrl+Alt+S” (The LanPopUp program must be
active). This can be done from any PC
that has the software installed and loaded.
The system configuration form allows you to setup or change the
following:
Global Configuration: UDP Socket - WinSock User Datagram Protocol
(UDP) socket used to send messages.
Message
Retention Days – Number of days from the current day that instant messages will
remain in the messages folder.
Time
Format – Time format of incoming message time stamp, 12 hr (2:30 pm) or 24 hr
(14:30).
Global Groups: Global
group names – Names of global groups (16 max).
The 1st group is predefined as “All Users”, and cannot be
changed. Users can be assigned to these
groups for receiving group messages.
Users: Login – User Login
name.
Name
– User Name (not necessary, but makes user maintenance easier if you use codes
for a login name).
User mode – User mode of
operation, Client or Admin.
Notify mode – User mode of
message notification, Flash Task or Set Foreground.
Group
Membership – Group or groups that a user belongs to. You can select groups by clicking on the list item.
User Send List – Add Login name
to Login Send Message List.
Plan your installation
before setting up groups and assigning users.
If a user is not added to
the database, they will default to the “All Users” group and receive any
messages sent to that group.
Messages can be formatted
and are editable using standard editing procedures. When you create a new message, it will initially use the message
formatting as set up in the User Defaults, but these can be altered. You can set the font size (10 to 24), font
color, set text bold, set text italic, set text underline, and set text
alignment (left, center, or right). The
message font is set as Arial and cannot be changed. We believe it’s one of the easiest fonts to read.
All messages are saved in
the LanPopUp\Messages folder. Messages
can be composed and immediately sent as a instant message or saved for sending
later. All instant messages are saved
in an yyyymmddhhmmss.rtf format. They
will remain in the LanPopUp\Messages folder for the period of time as specified
by the Message Retention Days value.
This enables the ability to place messages for in queue for users.
To save a message, enter
the text, click the Save icon (or on the menu bar, select File, Save Message,
give the message a name, and click Save.
To open a message file, select the Folder icon (or on the menu bar, select
File, Open Message, select the desired file, and click Open. The ability exists to preview saved messages
if you check the Preview checkbox on the Open File form. You can also check the Show hidden message
files to preview instant messages that have been previously sent and are within
the time period as specified by the message retention days.
After you have created
(or opened a previously saved message), click the Send icon (or on the menu
bar, select Send Message). You will be
presented with the Send Message form.
Depending on your system configuration, you will have a listing by Group
or Login (user login name), but you can select the other. Select the groups or logins that you wish to
send the message. You can do this by
either clicking on the list item, or using the up and down arrows and using the
space bar to toggle the desired selection.
Then, click send.
The method of
notification depends on the Notify Mode setting. If the Notify Mode is set for Flash Task, then program name will
be added to your task bar and will begin to flash, indicating that it requires
attention. If the Notify Mode is set
for Set Foreground, the LanPopUp form will popup (in your face). You can set
the Incoming Message Sound, and the alert sound will play every time there
is an incoming message. If you like,
you can add additional wav files in the local LanPopUp folder, then use “User
Defaults” from the menu bar to select the sound you would like to use (Admin
Mode only).
The program will hold up
to 32 messages in queue. By confirming
a message read, the current message is removed from the queue and the next
message is displayed. Each message indicates
it source; the user who sent the message, along with the date and time it was
sent. You cannot go back to a previous message after confirmation.
A PC with a Pentium 100
MHz processor (or higher)
Windows 95/98/NT/2000
At least 16 MB of RAM
At least 16 MB of disk
space
800 x 600 or greater
resolution monitor with a 256-color setting or better
These system files will
be installed in your \windows\system folder if they do not exist, or if the
existing installed files are older versions:
Msvbvm60.dll Visual Basic 6.0 Virtual
Machine
Msvcrt40.dll C Runtime Library Forwarder
DLL
Richtx32.ocx Rich Text ocx
Mswinsck.ocx Winsock Control
Olepro32.dll OLE Property Support DLL
Oleaut32.dll OLE 2.20
Stdole2.tlb OLE 2.20
Asycfilt.dll OLE 2.20
Comcat.dll Component Category Manager
Library
These files are installed
in the selected user installation folder (LanPopUp):
LanPopUp.exe Program file
LanPopUp.wav Notification wav file
This file will be created
in the selected user installation folder (LanPopUp) when you run LanPopUp for
the 1st time.
LanPopUp.ini Initialization file
These files will be
created in the selected shared network folder (LanPopUp) the 1st
time you enter the System Configuration form:
LanPopUpSys.ini System initialization file
LanPopUpGrp.dat Group data file
LanPopUpUsr.dat User data file
Create a shared network
folder called “LanPopUp”. Unzip the LanPopUp22.zip
to this folder. Two files will be
extracted; SetupLanPopUp.exe and LanPopUp.htm, which is the help file. All PC LanPopUp installations must be done
from the shared network folder.
To install the software,
run the SetupLanPopUp.exe for each PC that you want to install the LanPopUp
program. The setup program will install
the necessary program files.
We are very interested in
feedback about the LanPopUp program. If
you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or difficulty in installing or
using this program, you can contact us via email. Our address is support@centsoft.ws. We will respond within 24 hours.
There are no current
revisions for this release.
To remove the LanPopUp
program from the users pc, activate the LanPopUp program by clicking on the
LanPopUp icon in the system tray, and then load the program by the control keys Ctrl+Alt+X. This will unload the program, Next, run the Unstall program that is located in the same
folder where the program was installed (default LanPopUp). To remove the program and supporting files
from the file server, delete the shared LanPopUp folder.
This program is an
unregistered version for evaluation use only.
It is distributed as Shareware, which is based on the honor principal
allowing you to try before you buy. You
may use this program for a trial period of 30 days at no cost. After this evaluation period, you will no
longer be able to send messages until the program is registered. To register, send a request for registration
by selecting Help, About, and then double clicking on the registration email
address. Include within the body of the
email, your name, mailing address, and email address. We will reply back with registration instructions. Upon receiving your request for registration
and the one time registration fee of $199.00, you will receive a registration
key with instructions to register the program.
This will eliminate this registration reminder screen from appearing
every time you start the program, and enable the ability to send messages.
14. Copyright Notice, Distribution License, and Warranty
Copyright Notice:
Centaurus LanPopUp,
Version 2.2, Copyright ©
2000, Centaurus Software Design,
All Rights reserved.
Distribution License (Zip
file):
Centaurus LanPopUp may be
freely distributed via Online Services or Shareware Venders, provided that the
LanPopUp22.zip file is not altered in any way.
Warranty:
The Centaurus LanPopUp
program is believed to be accurate and reliable. The authors assume no responsibility for its use. This software is provided as is and without
warranties as to performance, or any other warranties whether expressed or
implied. Because of the various
hardware and software environments into which this program may be put, no
warranty of fitness for a particular purpose is offered. The user must assume the entire risk of
using this software.