This is an beta version. Use at your own risk.

About / What is QuickChat
-------------------------

QuickChat is a small utility for network chatting. So designer for server/client usage,
the client also supports direct connections (host/server) for two clients

As long there are bugs or requests, QuickChat is under development.
The latest official version can be found at http://www.ctuser.net.
For suggestions, questions, requests or bug reports, send eMail to info@ctuser.net.

QuickChat Client has now approximate 80 kb / compressed 30 kb. The source code &
resources take about 40 kb (850 lines / 14 kb pure code).
QuickChat Server has now approximate 50 kb / compressed 20 kb. The source code &
resources take about 18 kb (420 lines / 7900 bytes pure code).
  
This document will give you additional information of QuickChat

System requirements
-------------------
(according to Microsoft)
- Pentium 90MHz / high
- VGA 640x480 or higher
- 24MB RAM for Windows 95 / 32MB for Windows NT.
- Microsoft Windows NT 3.51 / 95 or later.
  (Windows 95 users may need DCOM update (or at least one file of)
- A working network, fixed IP addresses recommend

Copying / License / ...
-----------------------

QuickChat is freeware. You may use and copy for free. If you copy QuickChat, you
must copy "QChat.exe", "QChatSv.exe" and "QChat.txt". If you want to copy
"msvbvm60.dll" or "mswinsck.ocx", see Microsoft's homepage
(http://www.microsoft.com)

You may not sell or lend, modify (if you want to translate it, please contact
me: info@ctuser.net), decompile or disassemble.
Any commercial usage is prohibited!

Version history
---------------

New: New feature
Bug: Essential bugfix (Programm hangs, ...)
Fix: Other bugfix (Display, ...)
Chg: Changes (Optimation, ...)
Del: Removed 'feature' (Automation, ...)

(Some bugs may not affect the previous version, but an unreleased pre-beta
version)

1.00 beta 1 (First release)

Behaviours, Bugs, Errors, Problems
----------------------------------

Of course I'm testing my software and find most errors myself. Additionally, a
good friend of mine tests any version (alpha, pre-beta, beta, ...).
If you find an error anyway (that's why it's a beta), try to find out what you
did that caused the error (bug) and find the fastest / easiest way to reproduce
this error and eMail your report (info@ctuser.net). Please also check if the
error depends on one or more settings

How to set-up
-------------

Basically QuickChat is designed as a server/client solution:
  One server (one computer running the QuickChat server) connects all clients
  (QuickChat currently supports up to 254 clients with one server only)
  The server manages all message transfer and information handling (connect,
  renaming, disconnect, ...). When quitting the server or when it crashes
  (good servers should not be able to [be] crashed, except on hardware failures
  or operating system; Somehow I doubt QuickChat server is that stable, but it
  should not matter as it is a chat only).
  If you want to chat from the computer running the QuickChat server, simply
  start a client from that computer.
 --> Start server and all clients. Check each client if the IP address of the
     computer running the QuickChat server is set (Settings dialog)

Alternate, QuickChat can act as peer to peer solution:
  When the QuickChat client cannot connect to the specified, it will simulate
  a server, allowing ONE other client to connect to, without need for the
  server. In this mode, ALL USER MESSAGES are private messages. QuickChat will
  popup on any user message.
 --> Start two clients. Setup ONE client to use the IP address of the computer
     running the other client. For faster connections, you can remove the IP
     address from the other client, that will prevent that client from searching
     for a server.

The Client interface
--------------------

On the left side is a list showing all users connected to the server
(This list is empty when not connected to a server)
If a user in this list is select, your messages will only be sent to that user.

On the right side is a list (text box) showing the last messages and / or
informations. Below that list is a textbox where you write your messages;
Pressing "Enter" will send the current message

The settings windows and other stuff should be self-explaining.

Credits
-------

Jan Vorel (thats me):
 - Programming
 - Layout (design)
 - Testing
 - Readme file
 - Homepage (Text, screenshots, ...)
   
Christian Falk:
 - Beta tester

Ali Chaudry:
 - lots of discussions resulting in better performance
 - Showed me UPX

Thomas & Marlene Vorel
 - Testing

------------------ General Credits: ------------------

ULEAD System:
 - Photo Impact (best image editing programm)

PlanetSourceCode:
 - Visual Basic Source Codes to see how to use API

Markus F.X.J. Oberhumer & Laszlo Molnar:
 - UPX

Grennady Feldman
 - Win32Pad (Notepad replacement)

Eugene Roshal
 - WinRar
 - Rar ('DosShell' / HexViewer)

Toshi:
 - ExeScope: Additional resource operations / checking

Lothar Rossipaul:
 - Wörterbuch (For some translations)

Microsoft:
 - Windows 95/98
 - Visual Basic
 - MSDN