SigmaChat Complete Integration & Authentication

Hack Info
Name: SigmaChat Complete Integration & Authentication Add-on
Version: 2.0.0
Author: Chris Duerr, RaiderSoft
First Introduced: 28 Mar. 2004
Last Modified: 15 Nov. 2004
Compatability: vBulletin 3.0.x

Overview
This addon allows you to fully integrate a SigmaChat Java? Chat Room (free or paid service; Platinum or Enterprise required for full functionality) with your vBulletin 3.0.x forum system, including the ability to authenticate access via your vBulletin forum system, and provide a "Who's Chatting" page list showing who is currently logged into your chat room.

Features

• Chat room integrates via a single link in your vBulletin forum navigation bar, or via a forum link.
• Chat room may be placed in it's own vBulletin page, and/or as a popup window.
• Automatic user login option.
• Remote authentication script allows you to authenticate access into your chat room via your vBulletin user database.
• Complete control over which user groups are allowed access, allowed administrative access, or denied access.
• Real time "Who's Chatting" page allows you to show which users are currently in your chat room by interfacing with SigmaChat's "Who's Online Module" system.
• Makes use of vBulletin's template and phrase system for easy modification, and multilingual operation.
• Show who is chatting from your forums main page
• Automatic chat integration with your vBulletin user profiles, email, PM, etc..

Installation
Installation will require between 15 to 30 minutes of your time depending upon your proficiency in installing addons to vBulletin. Download the attached 'sigmachat.zip' file, and load the INSTALL.html file in your web browser for detailed instructions.

RaiderSoft may be able to assist you with installation should you require it. Please contact us for details.

Support
Support is provided by RaiderSoft for this script provided you have a Platinum or Enterprise SigmaChat account. Read the included instructions for details. I'll be happy to answer questions here as well regarding the script.

Screenshots are attached

The all new extension for vBulletin 3.5 has been released. For more information, please visit this link .

Download: VB3SC7_2.0.0.zip or download using the download link in the upper-right hand corner of this message.

[mello_mike]

Great script!! I just clicked installed

[Grim77]

Originally Posted by joeychgo

you know, its just my opinion - but its not too smart to restrict features that would help make a chat room's popularity within a website - many of us start with the free one to test popularity - and if my members cant see whos in they might not bother to go in - and if people arent using it, why should I buy a better one? Give us 2 months of full features to test if it is worthwhile for us - you'll sell alot more.

Just my .02

My .02:

The free service comes with 100 free Who's Online hits, so you can use it to test out, but only for a short while before you'd need to upgrade. I think we offer a pretty competitive piece of software in both price and feature set, and our user satisfaction is very high. The free service provides the basic functionality you'd need to determine if our chat software would work well for you. The applet is the smallest that I'm aware of, and we use top notch major network centers to ensure reliable uptime. Most of RaiderSoft's business is word of mouth referral. We've always offered one-time, two week trial upgrades to those who ask (just e-mail support@raidersoft.com with your account ID number and the service you're interested in).

For those of you concerned about having an unused chat room, I recommend announcing specific chat event dates/times to build support for your new chat room.

[Grim77]

Originally Posted by mello_mike

Great script!! I just clicked installed

Cool! Great to hear!

[SVTBlackLight01]

Grim77,

Have you heard of any issues concerning the problem I mentioned earlier?

[Grim77]

SigmaChat uses a real TCP port (it is not an HTTP hack like PHP based chat solutions) and requires a TCP socket connection, so some environments with strict firewall settings may have issues, and need to change their firewall settings for use with the applet. Our server status page at http://support.raidersoft.com/ can provide you with the firewall details if neccesary for your chat room. For the vast majority, this isn't an issue.

Originally Posted by SVTBlackLight01

Grim77, Have you heard of any issues concerning the problem I mentioned earlier?

[SVTBlackLight01]

I'm sure that's the problem then. The problem occurs for me when I'm at work. We are on a large network and they have a very, very strict firewall.

[ChrisBaktis]

Ok I have installed this hack and the chat room works, whos chatting works - one problem though...when in the chat area if I click on a drop down menu in the navigational bar the list goes behind the chat room not in front. How can this be corrected?

Chris

www.rustysoaptraders.com

[Grim77]

This problem is specifically mentioned in the FAQ section of the installation file. The problem relates to how web browsers render objects and applets, and currently there is no fix. There is one work around that works on one or two major browsers that works by shadowing a dynamically placed inline frame with the DHTML content (i.e., the menu) but is not a cure-all. For instance, it will not work on Macs.

If anyone is interested in releasing a VB mod to cure this (it's a little out of the scope of this hack) the only reference you'd need is here.

For now, I definitely advise using the popup method if you'd like a link in the navbar. This also allows your visitors to browse your forum simultaneously while they chat

Originally Posted by ChrisBaktis

Ok I have installed this hack and the chat room works, whos chatting works - one problem though...when in the chat area if I click on a drop down menu in the navigational bar the list goes behind the chat room not in front. How can this be corrected?

Chris

www.rustysoaptraders.com

[SVTBlackLight01]

The pop-up may be the best way to go now.

Another quick work around that I did was to make the chat window collapsible. It's not the best solution, but it allows for the display of the pop-up menu.

[Grim77]

Good idea! I wonder if there is a way to make it automatically collapse when the a menu is opened from the navbar, and automatically expand when the menu is no longer in use (?)

Originally Posted by SVTBlackLight01

The pop-up may be the best way to go now.

Another quick work around that I did was to make the chat window collapsible. It's not the best solution, but it allows for the display of the pop-up menu.