                            JChat  V0.11
                            ============

                  Written by Jochen-Matthias Wienke
                    <C>2001 , All rights reserved
                      
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
======================

         
         
1.1. DISCLAIMER
===============

This  software comes with no warranty, either expressed or implied. The
author  is  in no way responsible for any damage or loss that may occur
due  to  direct  or  indirect usage of this software. Use this software
entirely at your own risk.



1.2. COPYRIGHT
==============

The usage of this software for  legal purposes is  FREE  and   complete 
distribution of this archive is allowed.  Programm  and   documentation  
are copyright by Jochen-Matthias Wienke.  All  rights  reserved.   That
means especially that  reverse-engineering  or changing the software or
other files of this archive is NOT ALLOWED.



1.3. DISTRIBUTION
=================

Permission is given to include this program in a public archive (such as
a BBS, FTP site or PD library (disk and CD-ROM versions)) providing that
all  parts  of  the  original distribution are kept intact.

The following files are included:

- README.TXT  ( doc-file ; this file )

Directory server:
- JChatClientServer.class
- JChatServer.class

Directory client:
- jchat.html ( example html file to include chat)
- JChatClient.class
- JChatClient$1.class


1.4. CONTACT
============

Send bug reports, critics, X-mass cards, etc ...

email: j.wienke@worldwidehome.de
homepage: http://www.worldwidehome.de



1.5. REQUIREMENTS
=================

Server:
- Any OS with installed Java (PersonalJava or better)
- HTTP server like Apache or zAMilo(AmigaDE) 

Client:
Appletviewer or Java enabled browser
(client was tested on ElateAppletViewer, MS IE 5.5, Netscape 4.7, 
Netscape 6.1,  SUN Appletviewer)

A network connection with free "unfirewalled" port,  if you don't 
want to chat with yourself ;-)



2. INSTALLATION
===============

Server:
Simply copy the directory "server" to a directory of your choice
on the server system. The server system has to be the same system
where the HTTP server for the client applet is installed.

Client:
Copy the files within directory "client" to a directory of your
choice within the directory tree of the document directory of your
HTTP server. If "[SERVERDIR]/htdocs/jchat/" is your destination directory
and "htdocs" is your document root directory, later the URL of
JChat would be "http://[SERVER]/jchat/jchat.html".
Adapt the delivered "jchat.html" file to your needs or use your own file
to include the JChatClient applet. Set the port parameter within the
HTML file to exactly that port number you later start JChatServer with!





3. INTRODUCTION
===============

JChat is a simple chat system everybody may use for free
on his web server, within his home network or even for
communication between small java-enabled devices (PDAs, etc...).
The small server application runs on every OS with installed Java.
In connection with an HTTP server, all a client hast to do
is visit your web site with a java enabled browser.
Since with zAMilo (really great work guys!) exists a very
slim HTTP server for AmigaDE, even a chat between small
devices is thinkable.
JChat doesn't require much ressources. A system supporting
at least PersonalJava and sufficient display/input
possibilities should be enough.
Also an MIDP Client e.g. for Java enabled smartphones
like the Siemens SL45i exists. Look at my homepage for
details.
However, it has to be said that JChat is a very simple
chat system written and developed "just for fun" and 
"time by time". It will for sure not fulfill professional
demands.
At the moment, the system has to be regarded as BETA state,
since only very basic features are included.

Development depends from response and my "free" time :-) 

Things (maybe) to come:
- user/password support
- admin features (kick, etc ... :-))
- one2one chat





4. USAGE
========


Server:

- Start your HTTP server

- Open a shell, go into your JChatServer directory, and
  start JChatServer ("java JChatServer"). 
  The following parameters are supported:
  -p [Portnumber]      Use another port than standart 5123
  -l                   Use a logfile
  (e.g. "java JChatServer -p 8765 -l")
  You may want to  write a script/batch file for that.
  You also can start the server in the background without a 
  window on MS Windows NT/XP machines using the command
  "start javaw.exe JChatServer -p 8765 -l".

Client:
  
- Start a java enabled browser or an Appletviewer using the
  URL like explained under INSTALLATION 
  ( e.g. "http://192.168.0.2/jchat/jchat.html")

- Log in using a Name not already used by another client

- On the left side you can see who's online. Type in text 
  within the textfield to chat.
  
- Type "/help" into the textfield to get more information

- Type "/quit" to leave the chat
  

A remark about the ElateAppletViewer under Amiga SDK:

The viewer seems to interpret Java in some points
in a different way than Sun, Netscape or Microsoft does.
There seems to be a problem with the GUI update routine,
so you have to resize the window after log in manually
to see the list with other chaters online.
Also, the textfield does not scroll automatically with
text added to it.
Btw, If you don't know exactly using Java under the Amiga
SDK: i've got a short tutorial about installing and using java 
applications and applets under Amiga on my homepage





5. HISTORY
==========

V0.10
-----
first (alpha) version released

V0.11
-----
Implemented variable port number and Logging on/off using 
parameters.
