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			AtarICQ version 0.144 (beta status)


			     2000-09-14


		     - An ICQ-clone for ATARI GEM -




AtarICQ v0.144	by Joakim Hgberg

AICQ.OVL 36 (Anthill Industries "Seek You" Overlay) by Dan Ackerman



Read this first:
================

There is a reason why we call this a beta version. It is still in
its early stages and lots of functions are waiting to be implemented.
However, I would say that I believe this version to be pretty solid.

It has roughly the same functionality as mICQ, so if you are thinking of
registering, do not wait longer! All contributions will increase this
programs chances to become a really powerful icq-client, since we might have
better possibilities to get time and all to work on this.

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1) What is this? mICQ with a new look?

Nope, this is not mICQ. The overlay by Dan is unique and has borrowed 
ideas and code from several existing ICQ-clone projects out there. The 
OVL is handling communication with Mirabilis servers, and the shell 
(AtarICQ) is the frontend that makes use of it.

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2) What do I need to run it?

	-Atari or compatible computer setup
	-STiK-compatible TCP/IP stack	(STiK2, STiNG, Glue-STiK)
        
NOTE: iFusion will not yet work (or so I have been told)
I have mailed the author about this, but he has not replied. If you 
are in desperate need for AtarICQ to work under iFusion I suggest you 
mail the iFusion author about it.

The overlay (AICQ.OVL) for AtarICQ is written by Dan Ackerman which also
happens to be the current maintainer of STiK2. I therfore think we can
safely assume that the overlay is pretty STiK-compatible. ;)  
                                
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3) How do I install it?

Put the PRG, RSC and OVL into the same directory (the way it should be) ;)

When you run AtarICQ the first time it will help you setup a working
profile. In the first dialog you will have to tell the program if you
already  have a UIN or if you want to sign up for a new account.

 a) When creating a new account you'll need to choose a nickname and a 
 password. If all goes well and you are given a new UIN, you will then 
 have to type in some basic info about yourself before your account is 
 ready to be used. PLEASE be sure to remember the password you select!!
 
 b) If you already have a UIN then you just need to type in the UIN 
 and the password you selected for that UIN when registering. You'll 
 also be asked to enter a nickname, and after this dialog is finished 
 you will be able to use AtarICQ with your old account! 
                                                       
                                                       
NOTE: "ataricqm.rsc" can be renamed to "ataricq.rsc" if you have an 
AES older than 3.40

NOTE2: If you want to run AtarICQ under other fs than tosfs you need 
to set file attribute to executable for the overlay!

NOTE3: Check at least 10 times that you are entering the correct 
password before mailing me complaints saying that AtarICQ not will 
connect properly....

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4) How do I use it?


Well that should not be a problem if you at some point have tried ICQ, mICQ
or whatever. AtarICQ will try to connect as soon as you have left the
registering dialog with valid settings. (Make sure the password is right!!!)
You will find that the main window looks a bit funny and that is because it
still holds no contacts yet.


RESIZE MAIN WINDOW

The window carrying all the contacts might be easily adjusted in size 
now. The lower right corned carries a "hot spot" which will alter the 
mouse pointer once you find it. Then just drag the window to the 
desired height and width.


ADD CONTACTS

Now you can use entry in menu bar to "add contacts". At this point 
the hardcoded limit for contacts is set to 50. In the dialog where you 
add contact you can select "search" to search for new contacts.


SEARCH CONTACTS

In this dialog you can search the icq database for your friends by filling
in at least one of the fields in the search dialog.
You also can reach this dialog through menubar and the keyboard 
shortcut CTRL+F


CHANGE STATUS

Button to the lower right will allow you both to see your current status
mode and also allow you to change it. 

When you save config file (with CTRL+S) the online status will also be 
saved. This is the status the client will try to get next session. 
It can only be "offline" if you manually told AtarICQ to disconnect.


SEND MESSAGES

If someone sent you a message and you want to reply, just hit CTRL+R 
to open the send window.

A single mouse click over one of the contacts will open a window 
allowing you to send a message to that person

If you right click over one of the contacts you'll be served a popup 
menu. From this menu you can do the following:

	-Send instant messages
	-Send URL
	-View user info (and change nick for this client)
	-Delete contact (config file is automatically saved)
                   

After changing any settings you can press CTRL+S (or select "save 
config" through menubar) to save a new config file.

Position and size of (only) the main window will also be stored.


                   
INCOMING

Incoming messages are (for now) directed to one separate window. This 
window will be opened as soon as the main windows is called for. So if 
you close window for incoming messages and want it back, just use menu 
bar and select main window. (remember this is a beta version!) ;)

You can also resize the main window (only vertically) by right clicking the 
arrows for the slider in main window. (Yes, also temporary solution)


CONTACT INFO

Open this window by right clicking on a contact and select "Show info"

If someone not previously present on your contact list sends you a 
message, they will be added to your "temporary contact list". This 
means you must change this users contact list mode if you wish to keep 
them on your contact list always. I you don't, they will be gone next 
time you start AtarICQ.

These are the status modes available:

1) Normal mode    = You'll be visible to this person if not invisible
2) Invisible mode = You'll be invisible to this person always
3) Visible mode	  = You'll be visible to this person always
4) Temporory mode = Like invisible mode, but user will be gone next session

You can now request info and extended info about a contact from this 
window. Use buttons "update" or "more.."


CHANGE USER INFO

You can now change the basic info for your ICQ-account.
(Find the appropriate dialog through menubar)

You will be able to change:

	-Nickname
	-first name
	-last name
	-email
	-if other people (those using original ICQ on PC or Mac)
	 needs your authorization when adding you to their contact list.


PREFERENCES

Setup some general settings by accessing the preferences dialog by 
selecting "Preferences" from menubar entry "Extra".

Toggle: (on/off)

	-BubbleGEM support
	-Zoom boxes
	-Shell logging
        -Instant history (saves conversations, 1 log / contact)
        -Preserve list (save contact list in same order as loaded)
        -Close quits (Closer widget in main window terminates app)
 
	-Show time & date for incoming messages (popup selects date format)
	-Show outgoing messages
	-Top incoming window when messages arrive
	 (only if you then are "online" or "invisible")
	
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5) Some keyboard shortcuts

TAB 		= move default button
TAB+SHIFT	= move default button backwards
CTRL+R		= reply to last one that sent you url/instant
CTRL+Q		= open "really quit?" window
CTRL+SHIFT+Q	= exit immediately
CTRL+SHIFT+S	= save config file on the fly
CTRL+SHIFT+A	= uniconify all windows (this app only)
CTRL+U		= close window
CTRL+SHIFT+U	= close all windows
CTRL+W		= global window cycling
CTRL+SHIFT+W	= cycle only AtarICQ-windows
ESCAPE		= clear edit fields
RETURN		= select default button

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6) Is this program finished?

No way! We have just gotten the basic stuff to work and the OVL to 
start and exit cleanly under MiNT. I hope to be able to get the GUI 
part of this project much easier to use and the first thing I will try 
to do is give every contact a split window, with incoming stuff in the 
upper part, and the lower part will let you type in your messages. You 
could then have opened as many contact windows as you like up to some 
reasonable limit, say about 8 or so. Just understand that the present 
solution is not here to stay ;)

There are surely bugs left in both the shell and overlay, but I think 
I can say that it works quite reliable for being in such an early 
phase.

When I have gotten most of the shell to look and work as intended I guess we
can start looking at adding more features. We will get to that in time, so
please do not rush us with requests on file transfers and such just yet ;)

Later on there will be online help through a HYP-file that I will start
writing soon. This file will in the future probably be maintained by another
person, depending on the amount of sparetime he gets.

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7) Shareware? Isn't this program free?

Kind of. I guess it is rather obvious that neither I nor Dan Ackerman wrote
this software to get rich, but while working I got myself a rather ugly
phone bill (I have until now payed by the minute) and would very much like
to recieve some kind of appreciation from the Atari-users that want to use
and support this program.

I will have much better chances of developing the program fast if I get a
little help with my phone bill. (Last one actually was so expensive I might
have to borrow money to pay it! Not sure I can afford staying online)

As AtarICQ and OVL are really two separate programs, we think it would 
be in order to pay a small fee for both. We believe this would be fair:

	$5 for the AICQ.OVL 
	$5 for the GUI (AtarICQ)
	

I you want to see a mature ICQ client for the Atari and wants to 
ensure that this project is continued you can make a difference by 
helping out with a small donation. Also, please do not hold back your 
feedback, we'd love to get your opinions on our software.


Send your registration fees to either me or Dan (which ever one is closer)
Of course you can then send fees for both gui and ovl to that person.

(If you wish to use Swedish currency you can pay 50 skr instead of $5)


Joakim Hgberg
Bodgatan 22
S-931 53 Skellefte
SWEDEN


Dan Ackerman
P.O. Box 361
Mt. Vernon, OH 43050
USA

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8) Thanks

Several people have been really helpful when it came to beta test, 
code additional routines, give advice about coding or suggestions and other
feedback. And of course thanks to you out there that decided that you wanted
to support the AtarICQ development and bothered to pay the fee :)

Ronald Andersson
Martin Byttebier
Richard Gordon Faika
James Haslam
Holger Herzog
Joel Houphlon
Jerry Martin
Jrgen Nyberg
Lonny Pursell
Pascal Ricard
Nicholas Richeton
Odd Skancke

Kellis, Stghost, SWE, ZPQ

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+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
! Disclaimer:                                                           !
!                                                                       !
! Not sure this is necessary, but here goes.                            !
!                                                                       !
! EVERYONE THAT USES THIS PROGRAM DO SO AT HIS/HER OWN RISK! NEITHER I  !
! NOR DAN ACKERMAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE OUR SOFTWARE MAY DO TO !
! YOUR SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE.                                            !
!                                                                       !
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Joakim Hgberg (gokmase@bigfoot.com)

http://hem.passagen.se/gokmase/atari
                                                              