Index of /tcl/ftparchive/sorted/net/tkbroadcast-1.8

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 Parent Directory       28-Oct-99 15:46      -  
 README                 19-Sep-96 13:13     5k  
 tkbroadcast-1.8.tar.gz 19-Sep-96 13:32     6k  

tkbroadcast version 1.8
-----------------------
Ethan Gold (etgold@cs.vassar.edu), Fall 1996
http://www.cs.vassar.edu/~etgold/

	(version 1.0 Jan-May 1996, unreleased)
	(disclaimer follows)

Tkbroadcast is an Xwindows based messaging utility designed
	to provide the funtionality of broadcast on the Apple
	Macintosh. While appletalk broadcast is available for
	Unix, it isn't as slick as theMac version, and it
	requires appletalk. If you are mainly interested in
	messaging between unix workstations, then tkbroadcast
	is for you! Written entirely in standard tcl/tk,
	tkbroadcast should be highly portable - EVEN to the
	Mac and Windows (though external script launching may
	cause problems), and since it uses IP instead of a
	proprietary LAN protocal, it should also work across
	the internet.

	REQUIREMENTS:
	*tcl/tk versions 7.5 and 4.1 or greater

	INSTRUCTIONS:
	Edit the top of each script to point to the tclsh
	or wish on your system.
	Copy the 4 tkbroadcast scripts into a directory in
	your PATH. I recommend the following link commands:
		ln -s tkbroadcastd.tcl tkbcd
		ln -s tkbroadcastc.tcl tkbc
	Create a .tkbcrc file in your HOME directory and
	follow the sample .tkbcrc file format. The only
	requirements are the port number and your name.
	You will probably also want to add some addresses,
	of course. Note that duplicate entries will be
	ignored and the alias field cannot contain whitespace
	unless surrounded by quotes.
	Starting with version 1.6 you can enter this information
	from withing tkbc.

	Then start tkbcd in the background (probably from
	your .xinitrc) and wait for a message  or start
	tkbc.
	The text entry box in tkbc lets you spcify a machine
	and port directly instead of having to read it out
	of your .tkbcrc file.
	Make an entry for yourself and try sending yourself
	a message by selecting your name and clicking "send"
	or by double-clicking your name in the listbox.
	All the information stored in the resource file
	~/.tkbcrc SHOULD be manageable from the GUI.

	RECOMMENDATIONS:
	I start tkbcd in the background from my .xinitrc
	and then after the line that launches my controlling
	process (usually a window manager on the last line
	of the .xinitrc) I put the following code:
	
	if [-f ${HOME}/.tkbcd] then
		cat .tkbcd | xargs kill
		rm .tkbcd
	endif

	to ensure that tkbcd dies when I exit X. .tkbcd is
	created by tkbcd each time it runs and contains the
	PID of the daemon process.
	
	BUGS:
	*Daemon does not exit when X quits unless
	 explicitly killed from .xinitrc as in above
	 example

	FEATURES:
	*Files can be inserted into outgoing messages
	*Keypad Enter in the message box will send an outgoing
	 message just like in the Mac version.
	*Excepting firewalls and other obstacles, tkbroadcast
	 should work across the internet.
	*On the fly address and personal info management

	CHANGES:
		since 1.7:
	*Fixed absolute name resolution by parsing /etc/resolv.conf
	 for the domain name.
	*Added an undocumented (ha!) feature that will play a sound
	 for incoming messages that can be toggled with the line:
	   sound on
	 in the .tkbcrc file. there is currently no widget to supply
	 this information, hence its "undocumented" status.

		since 1.6:
	*Added save options to incoming messages
	*better key bindings in filename entry widgets
	*a little more immune to quitting on an error (little)

		since 1.5:
	*fixed "dummy" entry
	*fixed required extra blank line in .rc file
	*added tilde expansion in the "insert file"
	 entry box.
	*improved some keyboard bindings
	*reread now properly rereads the resource file
	*Added "add new" so new addresses can be added
	 without having to edit the file
	*address deletion and personal info management
	 from within tkbc. you shouldn't even have to
	 touch the rc file.

	FUTURE:
	*magic cookie based "receiver off" function like
	 appletalk broadcast - keeps out all messages not
	 from conversations initiated by you
	*File browser for "insert file" on outgoing messages
	 and file browser and save funtion for incoming
	 messages
	*Personalized Icons?
	*Clean up daemon so it can exit when X dies
	*implement multiple receipient sending

	CONTACT INFO:
	Please direct any problems, questions, suggestions to
	etgold@cs.vassar.edu (that's me) and I'll get back
	to you. I'd love to find out who's using my software,
	so if you decide to keep it, drop me a line.


	ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
	Thanks to Joachim Lindenberg for Appletalk Broadcast
	and John Ousterhout for tcl/tk


DISCLAIMER:
-----------
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ENTIRELY WITHOUT WARRANTY, EXPLICIT
OR IMPLIED! I'M AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST DATA, MISUSED/ABUSED NETWORK
RESOURCES, WASTES OF TIME/MONEY/PRODUCTIVITY.
DISTRIBUTE THIS SOFTWARE UNDER THE TERMS OF THE GNU PUBLIC LICENSE.
THE SUITABILITY OF THIS PRODUCT FOR ANY PURPOSE IS NOT GUARANTEED.