Embedded chat

This "hack" will allow you to run a semi-integrated (free or paid) chat room "inside" your forum:

+ It's quite generic and should work with several chat providers (made a seperate template, just for the applet code)
+ The chat room will be displayed within your forum's structure,
+ The chat applet will be sized according to the user's screen resolution (could get scary at 1600x1200 )
+ People will be logged into the chat room using their forum usernames (if the chat supports auto-login)
+ Invalid characters in usernames will be replaced before logging in to the chat, plus too lengty names will be shortened
+ Easy installation

- At this time there's no feedback from the chat room to the forum. A "chat monitor" is planned though (version 2)

The install docs and template examples are mainly focussed on the chat provider we use (http://www.raidersoft.com), but it shouldn't be a problem adjusting one or two things to get this thing to work with your own chat provider.

The sizes of the chat applet haven't been tested out fully. I have no clue how bigger resolutions work out. All the rest seems to work fine.

Hope you like it...

[update 1.4]Sizes can now be set more easily, just by editing the chatredirect template, nothing else.
Added support for raidersoft's ICE, which is more flexible with usernames.

[Ghostsuit]

That would be great I shouldn't have too much trouble if you send me the details don't think I'll need instructions.

[NexDog]

What's the eta on the new version?

I hate mysql.

[trilOByte]

Hey wot-mike, could you send that version to me too? Cheers.

[Courage]

I was using EIRC, but now i'm using a much smaller Java Cleint to connect to IRC
See http://irc.softnews.ro for a demo

The irc client can be found at http://glaz.rasko.ru

[-=dm=-]

Originally posted by wot-Mike
Hmm, the silly thing is that there's not much to (re-)install. But I vaguely remember me having probs with something that dissappeared when I replaced a template with the original one.

Let me know how things go.

Hi wot-Mike

its strange I still cant get it to work

[NexDog]

/clicks install cos it rocks.

[esawdust]

bump

[DTC]

Anyone know if this puppy will work the same with the new Sigma Chat 7.0 about to be released??

On November 1st, 2002, RaiderSoft will begin the SigmaChat v7.0 upgrade process. All accounts will be upgraded, including those running older, SigmaChat v5.x clients. Some downtime is to be expected as all servers will be upgraded, and new port assignments will be given. At the very least, any users online during the upgrade will have to reload the chat applet to continue use.

In SigmaChat v7.0, all settings to your chat room will be made directly from the new control panel. In SigmaChat v6.0 however, some settings were sent directly to the applet via your link instructions. Therefore, some account holders may need to adjust chat room settings from the new SigmaChat v7.0 control panel once it is installed.

[wot-Mike]

I'm working on a version that supports SigmaChat 7 all the way. It should have done by now... but isn't.

First things first:
the current Embedded Chat version will work with SC7. You will need to alter the applet code inside the chatbit template. It will look like this, so remember this post:

<applet ... check Raidersofts instructions for the exact line and change width=$setwidth height=$setheight>
<param name="room" value="YOUR ROOM NUMBER">
<param name="username" value="$username">
<param name="autologin" value="yes">
</applet>

Just in case: this is for SC7, so don't change anything now!

Ok, the next version of Embedded Chat is coming (version 3), but there isn't much yet. I've had extremely little time to work on it, or even play with the new features of SC7

Ok, what will version 3 have?
It's own table inside the vB database to store usernames and passwords and preferences. Preferences meaning height and width settings, and umm, language.
If people enter chat the first time, they will go through a setup screen, that will ask for these preferences and a password for chat. Their username and password will be automatically registered with your chat room. Saves you the trouble of doing it manually. This is one of the things I really wanted to have done and tested by now, but well *sigh*
Oh, yeah, and there will be a Who's Chatting thingie. Stupid thing is, I'm not really sure how that will work. I'm not too happy about the one there is now (yes, we're running the missing version 2 on our site)

Anyway, the current Embedded Chat will work with RaiderSoft's SigmaChat 7, no problem.

[DTC]

Great news wot-Mike!

Thanks you for all your efforts! This is a great hack and Raidersoft is a good chat!

Not sure of your idea about making folks go through that reg/preferences at login though. Now anyone in the registerered user group already has access and the auto login works great! We prevent anyone from changing there handle...good for security and spam. Perhaps just a button to enter/save user prefs is enough. Just some thoughts!

That Who's Chatting" feature would be great to have for sure!!! Allot of users are requesting it!

I'm no hacker but when we view "Who's Online", it does indicate a user "entered chat"...can't we just use that somehow to indicate who's (# of) chatting.....

Again, thanks and keep up the good work!!!