Dansie Chat 3.2 ReadMe
By Dansie Website Design
Version 1.0 Copyright  February 14, 1998
Version 2.0 Copyright  January  23, 2002
Version 3.0 Copyright  February 6, 2010
http://www.dansie.net


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DISCLAIMER AND LEGAL STUFF:
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COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT
Use of the Dansie Chat software is subject to the terms of the license
agreement. By using this software you signify that you have read the license
agreement and accept its terms. Your purchase of a Dansie Chat software license
entitles you to one (1) working copy of the script per license. You may NOT
copy, reproduce, resell, or give away copies of the script in any way shape or
form. A license is nontransferable from person to person. You may make one back
up copy should something happen to the working copy on your host. You may not
make any modifications to the Dansie Chat script except as instructed in the
ReadMe. The text links, and copyright credit to http://www.dansie.net must
remain in the script free of modification and appear on the help/faq page of the
Dansie Chat script. Violation of this license agreement may void your right to
technical support and subject you to legal action.

Do not modify the script except for the $vars variable near the top of the
script.

Modifying the script is a violation of the software license agreement and
copyrights and may subject you to legal action.

If you believe you may have received an unlicensed copy of this script or you
have information about someone conducting piracy, please contact us at:
piracy@dansie.net or http://www.dansie.net/question.html

Dansie Website Design will not be held responsible for any type of damage or
loss of time that may occur as a result of using this script. This includes but
is not limited to the corruption or loss of data on your server. (Not that we
intentionally put anything in it that will cause any problems on your server, we
just have to say this to cover ourselves.) Customer assumes full responsibility
for any damages or loss of time that may occur.

Refund Policy:

Make sure that your web host allows you to run CGI Perl scripts on your website
before you order. 30 day money back guarantee from the date of purchase if
Dansie Chat does not run on your website as advertised. For any and all
other reasons, all software license sales are final and are non-refundable. If
necessary, we will FTP in and get it running for you.

Please read all instructions below carefully.


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CONTENTS OF ZIP FILE:
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chat.pl              (The script)
ReadMe.txt           (Instructions)
chat_vars.lib        (variables settings file.)
/icons               (Directory of icons.)
/emoticons           (Directory of emoticons.)
/sounds              (Directory of sound files.)


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IMPORTANT RULES OF THUMB:
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You must know how to use an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program to install this
script. You don't have to know anything about Perl or HTML. Always upload the
Perl script in ASCII format and chmod 755.

Cookies must be enabled in your browser. This program utilizes JavaScript. For
best results, be sure to use an updated browser version.

Always make a backup copy of chat_vars.lib before you make any changes to it.
That way if you make a mistake, you can revert back to your older copy.
Always open and edit chat_vars.lib with a plain text editor such as Notepad or
SimpleText.


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INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:
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1. Upload images and sounds.  Recommended directory locations are: 
   /images/chat/icons/
   /images/chat/emoticons/
   /sounds/chat/
   You may upload your own emoticons and sounds too.  Or find some by searching
   the internet.
2. Make a sub directory in you cgi-bin named "chat".
   /cgi-bin/chat/
3. Set required variables in chat_vars.lib.
4. Upload chat.pl and chat_vars.lib to your /cgi-bin/chat/ directory in ASCII
   format.
5. Chmod both the "chat" directory and the chat.pl script 755.
6. Point browser at script with "?login" query string and enter your admin
   password as set in chat_vars.lib.
   Example: http://www.YourName.com/cgi-bin/chat/chat.pl?login
   Bookmark this URL so you can enter your chat room any time.
7. On the next screen enter a chat name.
8. On the next screen set "Chatroom type:" and "Max guests:" as you desire.
   See the "HELP" button inside the chat room for more info.


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TROUBLE SHOOTING INSTALLATION:
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Most common problems:

1. You didn't upload the script in ASCII format.
2. You didn't chmod the script and it's directory 755.
3. Your host doesn't have your site properly configured to run Perl scripts.
4. Your server may not have all the required Perl modules required for this
   script to run.
5. If the script executes, but it yields an error message about not being able
   to find the system path, you may need to set the $vars variable near the top
   of the script.
6. If you get a "50 Error" it's because you entered your admin password incorrectly
   5 times and caused your IP address to become banned.  To get back in, FTP into 
   your website and delete the "wrong_password_ip_log.txt" file in your 
   /cgi-bin/chat/ directory.

If you still can't get it working, send us your FTP address, login name and
password. We will be happy to go in and get it running for you. Send it to us
securely here:
https://www.dansie.net/ftp_secure.html


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# Inserting Chat Invitation links on your website's pages:
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SSI tags can be used on the same website where the chat.pl script is hosted.
<!--#include virtual="/cgi-bin/chat/chat.pl?invitation"-->
Adjust the language in the chat_vars.lib file to suit your needs.

IFRAME tags can be used on websites other than the one hosting the chat.pl
script:
<iframe width="250" height="105" frameborder="no" allowtransparency="true"
scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0"
src="http://www.YourName.com/cgi-bin/chat/chat.pl?invitation"></iframe>
If you want to control the border or background color of the iframe, insert this
into the iframe tag:
style="border:2px #000000 solid; background-color:#eeeeee;"

If you are only using a Public Chat Room and never plan to use a Customer Support
chat room, a static link will work just fine:
<A HREF="http://www.YourName.com/cgi-bin/chat/chat.pl" TARGET=_blank>Chat room</A>


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# Tips:
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Insert your company logo as the background wallpaper in one of your chat room's
frames.  Lighten it or turn it into a watermark and it wont interfere with the
text above it.  See the "Font and Background Color Variables" section in the 
chat_vars.lib file.


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TELL A FRIEND AND RECEIVE A FREE UPGRADE AND ONE MORE YEAR OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT:
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We are always upgrading our scripts to make them easier to install, easier for
your customers to use, and to give you more customizing abilities. If you refer
someone else who purchases Dansie Chat, we will send you a free upgrade and one
more year of technical support. To receive the upgrade, have the person you 
referred send us an email after they purchase telling us it was you that
referred them to us. Your free upgrade can be collected anytime within one year
of the referral. So tell a fellow webmaster about Dansie Chat.


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UPGRADE INSTRUCTIONS:
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You can purchase an upgrade of the latest version and one more year of technical
support here:
http://www.dansie.net/upgrade_payment.html

1. Rename the new script to "chat_new.pl" and upload it in ASCII format to your
   /cgi-bin/chat/ directory.
2. Chmod the new script 755.
3. Point your browser at it to see if it works.  If so, delete your old copy and
   rename the new copy to "chat.pl".
4. If you get an Internal Server Error, see TROUBLE SHOOTING INSTALLATION above.



