2007.07.1501 -- Improvement: Added support for VFUG Forum for years 2007 & 2008. Internal class updates and versioning.
2006.06.2801 -- Improvement: Bug fixes in the dedicated IM stand alone form, cleanup.
2006.06.2503 -- Improvement: Major Update! Extensive under the hood improvements & bug fixes.
2006.06.2301 -- Improvement: Fixed Bad graphics problem when transferring graphics to local dir.
2006.05.1804 -- Improvement: Now supports year "2006" for some searches.
2004.08.2000 -- Improvement: Now supports up to year 2005
-- Status bar counter for watching connections.
-- ESC (Escape) key support to cancel connections in progress.
-- Newer and more powerful network engine.
-- New Forum Message Post works better.
-- In Buddy Message Mode (BM) a new "Paste" option to paste last message sent in case of failure.
-- Numerous other enhancements, a major update.
2003.10.231 -- Bug Fix: Fixed the minor error when VIM was first launched
Bug Fix: Fixed bug when VIM launched IE for a Banner Ad to a Vendor's site.
Improvement: You cannot reply to a message if none exists in Buddy Msg Mode.
2003.10.200 -- Major Improvement: Made major sweeping changes to the internal Network layer.
Major Improvement: Now you can directly email a member who posted a Forum message (under the Buddy Message tab using Online Messages).
Major Improvement: Now supports deleting multiple messages at once ( Buddy Message/Online/Forum Message).
Improvement: Better connection stability and message retrieval events.
Improvement: Error handler in GUI is improved.
Improvement: Uses new ports for services, including Port 80 (Main) & 8080 (Alt Server) for directly interfacing with the VFUG web pages.
2003.02.210 -- Improvement: Improved Error handler
in GUI and Network layer. Look for an "ErrorData.Dbf" only if an error
occurs.
Improvement:
"Alt Server", "IM Alt Server" and "BM
Alt Server" now connect via a different backbone (Internet Route).
Improvement:
Some minor interface changes to make use a little easier.
2003.01.021 -- Improvement: Now supports year 2003
for Forum Message options.
Bug
Fix: When at main log in page, unchecking "Remember PW" still
saved the User Name -- fixed.
Bug
Fix: Sometimes when in IM mode (page) and try to send an IM Email it would
error -- fixed.
2002.12.021 -- Bug Fix From 2002.12.020: Fixes
the truncation of some text when replying to a Forum Message in "Buddy
Msg" tab.
Improvement:
Text message optimization for slightly shorter message length (less overhead)
-- optimized for wireless connections.
Improvement:
When replying to a message in the Forum (online mode) via the "Buddy
Msg" tab, after posting the reply the online message list (left column)
will automatically update with the message you just posted. NOTE:
The "BM Forum Msg" option must be enabled to take advantage
of this feature.
Improvement:
In "Buddy Message" mode, when replying to a message from
the Forum, the "annoying residue" is now removed from the original
message. In other words, old boundary markers, disclaimers, etc, are "peeled
off" of the new post when the reply is posted. Only the current info is
attached to the new reply.
2002.10.311 -- Bug Fix: When saving your "Buddy
List", after adding a new "Buddy", you would receive a non-critical
error.
Improvement:
In "Instant Message" mode, when the "IM Save" button is
selected, a "SAVE AS" dialog now appears and lets you choose a name
and directory to save log file to.
2002.10.280 -- New Feature: Instant Message (IM)
Page can now open to a new window and be re-sized Both the IM
Page and IM Window will stay synchronized.
Bug Fix: Fixed the IM "Cut & Paste" bug.
Bug
Fix: Fixed the sometimes "ActiveControl not found" error.
Bug
Fix: When in "Buddy Message" mode the cursor would not reposition
to the top when a new message was viewed.
Improvement:
VIM now has increased polling loop sizes to account for slower connections (i.e.:
Wireless connections). VIM should now be more responsive.
2002.08.140 -- Bug fix: Fixes the Forum Message List not refreshing properly ("Buddy Mail" tab) after posting a reply.
2002.08.120 -- You can now post replies to Forum Messages using the "Buddy Mail" tab in the VIM application.
2002.08.060 -- Made minor changes to the EMail Sender portion of the program. Plus other minor enhancements.
2002.06.010 -- Replaced the existing HTTP handler with a new internal HTTP engine. Plus other minor enhancements.
2002.02.200 -- Buddy Message Mode: Now is default, retrieves Online Messages more reliably. All: A number of minor enhancements.
2002.02.190 -- Fixed problem with random idle disconnects, "phantom" connections, and improved background operation.
2002.02.180 -- Added Full Asynchronous (Network Event) Processing to Instant & Buddy Messaging plus minor enhancements.
2002.02.120 -- Added BM Forum Msg to Online message options, Fixed bug in Buddy List search, Online message pick list in BM is now single message at a time only.
2002.02.111 -- VIM now has Online Help screens (look for the (?) at the top right) -- plus numerous other enhancements.
2002.02.080 -- VFP 7 SP1 Runtimes now online (see the bottom of this page)
2002.02.010 -- Release of full version of VIM
2002.01.070 -- Initial release of the VFUG Instant Messenger (VIM) module incorporated into the VFUG Client
2001.12.210 -- Original release.
1. Please respect ALL copyrights by ALL parties.
2. You may NOT reverse engineer this program. Doing so is in violation of international copyright law.
3. Do not try to use this program for other then it's intended use -- as a VFUG Instant Messenger for support issues only.
4. You cannot somehow cause the banner ads not to display properly.
1. All Internet processing is done internally by VIM that executes 100% VFP code.
2. All supporting files are generated by VIM at runtime.
3. VIM is a VFP Graphical User Interface (GUI) that has all the VFP features
available to it (PEMs).
4. VIM can run as a COM component and be used from inside other applications.
5. VIM uses a "VIM Server" that is also written in 100% VFP and uses
only 2 to 5 Megs of RAM and very little CPU time.
6. VIM & VIM Server can be used on any Windows PC from Windows98 up to WindowsXP
and beyond.
7. VIM contains it's own "HTTP engine".
8. VIM can directly interface with web pages (HTML) via the VIM (VFP) interface
(GUI).
The information on the bottom left if existing information on the VFUG.Org site. You cannot change this.
Bottom middle is your User ID & PW you already created on VFUG. You have the option to show Tool Tips (info pop-up messages), Remember your UID & PW for future sessions, Turn the system "Bell" on/off and whether to use the Alternate Server Port (only check this if you cannot logon to the web site).
Bottom right is the Logon button, use this to actually Logon to VFUG.Org. The Quit button to terminate the application. "IE Browser" will be enabled after Logon -- this opens Internet Explorer and takes you "inside" of VFUG (you do not have to logon twice).
When you first enter you are on "Set Date". If you have not been on for a while then you should see messages from the last time you logged on until present. You can always "Set" the date to any date you wish. All message on and after that date "and hour" (on left of Set Date button) will be retrieved.
Next is the "Sections" area. All current sections and the number of messages in each section will be displayed. Choose the message section you wish to look at.
Next, choose a subject to look at -- subjects and the number of messages for each subject are displayed.
Then choose "Threads" and select the exact message you wish to read. Threads will be offset by underscores to show individual thread relations.
Any of the List Box entries can be selected by either double-clicking the entry or by highlighting it and then click on the corresponding "Go" button.
The selected message will be displayed in the large Edit box.
With the Command buttons on the bottom right you can "Clear" a message in the Edit Box, Answer the current message and "Send" the answer you wrote. The "Send" button is enabled after you select "Answer".
New messages to the Forum are entered here. To create a new message click on the "New" button.
At the top left select a message "Section" for your new message -- choose one that best fits your topic.
Next, enter a message "Subject" -- make it descriptive so people will be sure to look at it if interested.
At the bottom left enter a "Name" to send the message to -- the default selection is usually OK.
Then enter the e-mail address of who the message is to -- The Blank selection is OK and you can leave it empty.
The large area in the middle is of course where you enter your message.
After you write your message click on the "Send" button at the bottom right which is only enabled after you press "New" and until you press "Send".
The entire top on-half of the form is where you fill in your message search criteria. Make it as close as possible to what you want. Only the last 100 matching entries are returned.
Note: The "Msg Search Keyword" text is "case sensitive".
When ready click on "Search" and the results will be displayed in the bottom half of the form.
To read a particular message either double-click on it or highlight it and press "Get Msg Match". You will then be taken to the "Read Message" section (See "Read Message" above) where you have all the Read Message options available to you.
VFUG Instant Messages:
IM New Window (Re-Size Window)
Here is one of the most important parts of VIM, VFUG Instant Messaging. Here you can "talk live" with other VFUG members and have dynamic exchanges.
Also note, the VIM section is used now for the weekly VFUG "Chats". See the VFUG web site under "Chat" on the top menu for more details.
After the initial logon you can choose "Private Mode", "Away", E-mail, turn the new message arrival bell on/off, saves the screen contents and more with just a click.
The "Buddy List":
Here are matches for a search (top) and the list of existing buddies (bottom). These matches come from the members database that resides on the VFUG server. You must fill in both lines of the search dialog using different criteria (i.e.: you cannot use "Last Name" as a search criteria in both lines). You must enter at least two characters in each search box as shown below. A maximum of 100 matches is returned.
The "Buddy Message" Section:
Here is the "off-line" message section. By off-line we mean that the "recipient" can be off-line and still receive messages.
This is where you create, send, read and store "Buddy Messages". These "Online" messages are stored on the VFUG server until the recipient logs on and retrieves them -- and then deletes them. You can also log on from numerous other PCs and always have your online messages available no matter where you are. The messages are kept for up to 30 days on the server. Old messages are deleted by the server admin at appropriate intervals. So it is best to save any message worth keeping on the local PC as soon as possible. It is easy to save a message to a local "Off-line" message store and keep it for as long as you want.
Typing an E-mail while watching exchanges.
A "chameleon like" interface that easily changes from message entry to e-mail entry.
Expanding User Info objects:
Hold the left mouse button down on the IM Off-line Message list and see an expanded view.
1. VIM requires only the VFP runtimes be installed (the VFP runtimes are available as a separate download) for the software to operate.
2. Of course an Internet connection.
3. A previously created VFUG.Org User account (UID & PW).
VIM uses individual pieces of Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) to operate. These pieces include:
1. A VFP GUI as a client.
2. A the network layer.
3. XML as the data transport protocol.
4. Objects on an Internet Web Server to supply and receive content.
Support is ONLY provided on the VFUG.Org web site. Please use the "Internet/Web Services" section of the VFUG Forum. If you have problems you can access this area with any standard browser.
If a bug occurs please send the "ErrorData.Dbf" file and a brief description of what you did that created the error. The "ErrorData.Dbf" file is not created unless an error occurs. Send the file (ZIP first to bypass anitvirus programs) to Tom@VFUG.Org -- Subject: VIM Error File.
Copy the downloaded ZIP file to the desired directory you wish to use VIM in. Unzip the rtsVFUGClient8.Zip file. You should see a VIMReadMe.Htm file, BM_Signature.Txt file and the rtsVFUGClient.Exe file. If you see these files then the VFUG Client has been installed! You can create any type of link or shortcut you want to the EXE file for easier launch -- or use the COM features of the client to launch from within any application that supports COM.
Please use the "Internet/Web Services" section of the VFUG Forum for ALL feedback.
Only if you agree to these terms! |
Downloadable Files: |
VIM Application in VFP 9 -- 537k: |
rtsVFUGClient.Zip |
*** Please note: As of this version only VFP 9 is supported.
|
Copyright(c)2000-2007,Thomas O'Hare, RedTile, Inc. & VFUG.Org - All Rights Reserved.