Bote V1.21
Released 1998-Jan-16

Hello and Thank You for trying Bote

I've tried to keep Bote fast and easy to use
without consuming outrageous amounts of disk
space or processor usage.

Your comments about Bote are very welcome
and I'd like to encourage you to email me
about your experiences with it.

hey,   dbin@mail.sce.de   is easy!

If you find Bote less-than-OK I would like
to know what I did wrong.


Have a real good time.

-db-


Ok if you still reading here is what you can find in this file

--- What is Bote:
--- Why use Bote?:
--- Distribution:
--- Installation:
--- UnInstall:
--- Where is the help file?:
--- File Transfers:
--- Configuration:
--- Status Display:
--- How it works:
--- Web Server:
--- Portability:
--- Diagnostics:
--- Advanced:
--- Privacy:
--- Legal stuff:
--- Credits:



---------------------------------
What is Bote:
---------------------------------
 Bote (German for messenger) is a small program that lets you
 have a text chat with another Bote user.

 Bote also provides an answering service and callers can leave 
 messages for you if you are not answering to chat requests.

 Files and Folders can be transfered too.  Just drag and 
 drop them onto the chat or talk window.


---------------------------------
Why use Bote?:
---------------------------------
 Easy to use, less time to setup, more time to use.
 Fast, starts quickly, runs fast.
 Small, does not occupy megabytes of disk space.
 Efficient, easy on those CPU cycles.
 Portable, telnet compatable.
 Secure, wont send private info, or accept unwanted files.

---------------------------------
Distribution:
---------------------------------
Distribute freely.
It is acceptable to include Bote on shareware collections
CD-ROMS, BBS's, Websites and other forms of PUBLIC ACCESS
archive storage sites.  Bote and its accompanying files
must be maintained in their entirety.

This is a non time limited, fully functional, evaluation
version of Bote.


---------------------------------
Installation:
---------------------------------
 Copy or unzip the files to the directory of your choice.
 I suggest
 "c:\Program Files\dbsoft\" 
 -or-
 c:\programme\dbsoft\

 Bote comes with the following files:
 bote.exe         the program
 bote.html        a sample file for the HTTP server.
 botehelp         help file 
 filein.wav       played when file lists arrive PCM,11,025 Hz, 8 Bit, Mono
 mesgin.wav       played when messages and PopNotes arrive
 ringin.wav       played when people call you   PCM,11,025 Hz, 8 Bit, Mono
 ringout.wav      played when you call out      PCM,11,025 Hz, 8 Bit, Mono
 PRICE.txt        Current Price List
 README.txt       this file.
 WHATSNEW.txt     list of changes


 Bote Creates and uses three other files
 bote.ini  (in your windows directory)      configuration settings
 bote.bom  (in a directory of your choice)  messages and log file
 bote.bop  (in a directory of your choice)  popup notes when Bote is shut down.

 By default Bote uses c:\tmp for file transfers.


---------------------------------
UnInstall:
---------------------------------
 Delete c:\windows\bote.ini

 The other Bote files can also be
 dragged into the trash bin.

 Delete any shortcuts you made.

 Bote does NOT pollute your system registry.
 Bote doesn't read or write to it at all.

 When you remove the Bote files, it is gone.


---------------------------------
Where is the help file?:
---------------------------------
 The help file is called  botehelp
 It should be in the same directory
 that you start Bote in.
 To use the help press F1
 or click the  ?  button and click
 on the item you want help for.


---------------------------------
File Transfers:
---------------------------------
 There are three ways to send files
 1) While chatting, you can drop files and folders onto the chat window.
 2) Use the chat menu item for FILE->SEND.
 3) Drop files onto the message area On the OPEN NEW CONNECTION window.

 The list of files is sorted and sent to your chat partner.
 Your chat partner may then choose to receive the list,
 select the desired files and copy them to their computer.

 
---------------------------------
Configuration:
---------------------------------
 You do not have to restart Bote for the options to take affect.

 Some changes do not affect a call in progress, but will be used
 on any new calls.


---------------------------------
Status Display:
---------------------------------
 Bote 0/0     the normal display when started.
 Bote 2/0     2 active chat sessions.
 Bote 0/5     5 messages.
 Bote 2/5     You 2 active chat sessions and 5 messages.
 Bote 2/+3    You 2 active chat sessions and 3 NEW messages.

 The Bote ICON will flash when new messages arrive.
 The flash will stop after you read your messages .


---------------------------------
How it works:
---------------------------------
 Bote listens for TCP/IP messages on port (channel) 54637.
 You can change this with the /p command line option.
 Normally you will not need to set or change this.
 Examples:
 /p54637    (the default)
 /p23       (telnet listener port)

 Bote will start up minimized.
 The  left mouse click starts the main menu.
 The right mouse click gives you a menu of all available option.

 If you prefer, Bote can start up and 'live' on the sytem tray as a small icon.
 The  left mouse click starts the 'OPEN NEW CONNECTION' dialog
 The right mouse click gives you a menu of all available option.

 You can change this with the /v command line option.
 examples:
 /v0   Bote is a small icon on the system tray (also /v)
       This can also be set by makeing the shortcut MAXIMIZED
 /v1   Bote is minimized on the task bar. (default)
       This can also be set by makeing the shortcut MINIMIZED

 Bote keeps its configuration information in a file called 'bote.ini'
 You can change this with the /i command line option.
 examples:
 /ibote.ini         (this is the default, in the WINDOWS directory)
 /i.\bote.ini       (create and/or use bote.ini in the curtrent directory)
 /ic:\Bote\bote.ini

 When new MESSAGES arrive the icon will 'flash'
 When a CHAT REQUEST arrives a dialog will pop-up and ask if you want to
  accept the chat,
  take a message
  take a Popup Note
  -or-
  refuse the call.

 You can setup Bote to popup, ring, and/or flash the window.
 For more options see the Setup menu.

 While chatting you can press the right mouse button on the chat
 window to set the font and colors according to your preferences.

---------------------------------
Web Server:
---------------------------------
 The Bote Mini Web server really is 'mini'.
 It is not stupid or lazy, its just cool about what it will do.
 In fact, it is a fast little server that can serve your web page
 without consuming a lot of computing power.

 And it is secure, there is no worry about wrong access permissions
 or strange configurations, there is only a few settings, the filename
 of the web page, and the filename of its image file.

 It doesn't matter WHAT the person requests, they get either the web page
 or the image.  If they ask for ANY type of jpeg or gif file they get
 the imagefile you specified in the setup panel. 
 Likewise if they ask for ANY web page or text document they get the page
 you specified in thesetup panel.

 If those filenames don't exist they get a '404 file not found' error.

 When you make your web page you should understand this point:
 it doesn't matter what filename tag you use in the HTML tag, the Bote
 server will ALWAYS return the image file you specified in the setup.

 That's because it wont allow other people to read directory listings
 of your computer.  it just says.. HTML? ok here is the web page,
 You want an image file? jpeg? gif? fine! here it is.

 Lets say that in the setup panel you set your web page file as
 "index.htm", and your image file as "mypicture.jpg"

 and in you "bote.htm" file you have a tag like
 <img src="c:/images/foo.gif">

 They are still going to get "mypicture.jpg", it ignores the filename
 completely and always overrides it with the filename that you specified
 in the setup panel.

 That sucks right? wrong. It is very secure and FAST FAST FAST.
 besides, you can always point it to any other site you want and it will 
 deliver the image withou a problem.

 for example:
 <img src="http://someother.site.com/images/coool.gif">

 Or you could point it to one of those comapnays that provide web page
 counters like:
 <img src="http://counter.site.com/images/coool.gif">

 Hey! those addresses aren't real, I just made them up to show that 
 you can do all the things you want from your web page and still not 
 worry about anybody seeing things other than the files you specified.
 
 A new feature was added for version 1.22B that allows you to direct
 all requests to another web page.

 If you enable redirects make sure you enter in a valid URL like
 http://somesite.com/somepage.html

 And if you leave it blank your callers will get a error

500 Internal Server Error
This server is unable to resolve your request.

---------------------------------
Portability:
---------------------------------
 You CAN use telnet to talk to bote.
 If you have a decent Telnet it should work fine.
 Actually almost any Telnet program will work, including
 UNIX/Linux Telnet and Microsofts' WfWG Telnet.
 I have not tried it from a MAC, but that should also work.

 There are 3 ways to do this, all require that Bote and Telnet
 talk and listen on the same port.

 1) tell Bote the port when you make the call
    example: friend.onthe.net:23
    example: friend.onthe.net:telnet

 2) tell Telnet to use the Bote port   use 54637 on the Telnet command line.
    example: telnet david.sce.de 54637

 3) tell Bote to use the Telnet port   use /p23  on the Bote Command line.
    example: bote /p23

 Normally you should leave the Bote settings as-is and ask your telnet
 friends to contact you on port 54637.  That way Bote callers can find
 you easily too. (see example 2 above)

 Here are some more examples
 Calling Bote from UNIX or LINUX:
                                 telnet BoteUserInternetName 54637

 Calling Bote from Windows WfWG/w3.11
                                 telnet BoteuserInternetName 54637


---------------------------------
Diagnostics:
---------------------------------
 Bote has been tested on W95 winsock 1.1 and NT4 winsock 2
 The standard winsock diagnostics are displayed in verbose format.
 The common numeric error codes are translated into their english equivalent.
 If I missed one drop me a mail message or a PopNote and let me know.
 You can send your PopNote to  david.sce.de


---------------------------------
Advanced:
---------------------------------
 You can run multiple copies of Bote *if* they listen on different ports.
 Why would you want to do this?
 (see the section on portability)


---------------------------------
Privacy:
--------------------------------- 
 Bote does not send any secret information.
 Your login name (if you enable it) and your
 IP address are used when connecting to other
 Bote Users.  There is no special code
 installed in Bote that can be used to identify
 registered or unregistered users.

 Bote only connects to the site you specify, 
 and only for the purpose you selected.

 There are two items in the HELP/ABOUT box
 that can be used to contact the author via
 email or HTTP.

 Your POP3 email password can be set in the
 setup menu and it will be writtten to the
 Bote .ini file in an encrypted format.  if
 you prefer to NOT save it just leave it blank.
 Bote will ask you for it when required.
 (when you check your mailbox for addresses)

 The password encryption is not trivial,
 but a determined person could possibly
 unencrypt it with some time and effort.


---------------------------------
Legal stuff:
---------------------------------

Copyright 1997 David J. Binette
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Bote is a shareware program

It has been tested on Windows95 OSR1 and OSR2 and NT4

Bote comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY

You may use this software over a 30 day time period
to determine if it is suitable for your needs.
To use it after that period you must pay for it.

To register this software:
send US$20 check or postal money order
for each copy of Bote you want to register.
Payable to:
David J. Binette
Box 12 Kootenay Bay
BC CANADA
V0B1X0

Your cancelled check is proof of payment.

If you need or want more information
regarding site licences or discounts
please contact via email dbin@sce.de


---------------------------------
Credits:
---------------------------------
 Bote is an original work by David J. Binette
 It is Copyright 1997 David J. Binette ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 My greatest thanks go to Bernd Luevelsmeyer who provided invaluable
 help and comments (and also taught me about Win32 programming)
 Thanks Bernd!


                                          David Binette


---
TCP/IP port numbers are registered with IANA (http://www.iana.org)
port 54637 is currently unassigned.
Standard UNIX and WINDOWS computers have no permanent services on port 54637.
Bote is NOT registered with IANA
