
 
     D.Lindauers'
         
           
        
        
  The DOS ICQ Clone 
 

        CONTENTS

     1 - Disclaimer
     2 - Overview
     3 - Installation
     4 - Usage
     5 - F.A.Q.
     6 - Updates
     7 - Contact


 1 - Disclaimer 


     LSicq is software, and like any software it's not bug-free, and
  it's impossible to tell how it will react on every single system.
  Therefore, all responsibility for any damages caused directly or
  indirectly by LSicq are yours.

     LSicq was created without decompiling ICQ or any other
  copyrighted material.  Even the compiler used to create it was
  owned legally. :P

     LSicq is freeware.  It may be distributed freely as long as it
  hasn't been modified in any way.  The documentation must also be
  included.




 2 - Overview 


     The original ICQ was created by the company "Mirabilis" and later
  sold to AOL.  Unfortunatly neither of these companies decided to make
  a version of ICQ for DOS, possibly due to lack of interest.  LSicq,
  which stands for "LadSoft ICQ" was created by David Lindauer.

     LSicq lets you send and receive and messages instantly. It also
  lets users see who see who is online, which is the main thing lacking
  with E-Mail.  This way, you receive the messages as soon as they're
  sent to you.

     Like ICQ, LSicq uses direct connections to send files/messages
  to others, rather than relaying through a server, which means that
  file sends will generally be faster, and you'll know they're going
  to get to the person you're sending to.




 3 - Installation 


     Installation of LSicq is fairly simple.  Make sure that you have
  a dos PPP dialer (and driver) set up properly to connect you to the
  internet in dos, such as Klos PPP or Arachne (http://www.arachne.cz).

     The next step is to set your ppp driver (such as epppd.exe) to an
  mtu of 1500.  In arachne, this can be done by simply editing the file
  Arachne.CFG in your arachne directory, and changing the line under the
  heading "[Profile]" that reads "Connection @epppd.exe>>PPP.LOG" to
  "Connection @epppd.exe mtu 1500>>PPP.LOG".  Information on doing this
  with Klos or another dialer is not available at this time.  It may be
  possible that this installation step is not necessary.

     After the above steps are completed, simply execute LSicq.exe and
  follow the steps to register a new user or use an existing account.




 4 - Usage 


     Switches: LSicq has a few switches, mainly /U.  The /U switch
  disables TCP (file transfers/direct connections) and goes with UDP only.

     At the moment, LSicq uses an interface similar to MS-Dos, rather
  than a GUI using the mouse and a scrollable contact list similar to
  windows.  LSicq is similar to ms-dos, it's all done by command line.

     Typing "help" will give you a list of commands.  Generally, simply
  typing the command on it's own will prompt you for the data required
  to complete the command.  When asked for "uin:" you may type in the
  name of someone that is on your icq list rather than their icq number.

     When typing messages, you may want to write a message about a
  paragraph long, so hitting enter in this type of situation will not
  end your message and send it.  This applies to filling in your "about"
  info when registering, descriptions when sending files, etc.  To
  end the message, hit enter once, then put a period on the screen, and
  hit enter again.  In short, you have to put a period on its own line
  to send a message.  Here is an example, anything after // is a comment:

        lsicq> send W0rm                // send a message to W0rm.
        Message text: hey.              // the message area. [enter key]
        Message text: .                 // a period          [enter key]
        lsicq>                          // it was sent (back to cmdline)

     LSicq is otherwise pretty simple to use.  If you're not familiar
  with ICQ itself, then there is still some more you may need to know.
  The first, is that you are assigned an "ICQ Number" or "UIN" which is
  yours, and only yours.  To search for and add others, either send them
  for their icq number by e-mail, or use the "search" command, you may
  be able to find them if they typed their e-mail into their info.
  To add a user, simply type "adduser UIN NickName" where UIN is their
  icq number, and NickName is the name to give them.

  For reference, here is the list of commands:
        alter_cmd  - alter the name of a command
        accept     - accept whatever was requested of you
        adduser    - add an icq number to your list
        auto       - change an auto-response message
        deluser    - delete a user from your contact list
        file       - send a file
        getinfo    - get an icq numbers info
        help       - lists the commands/uses
        passwd     - toggle password save mode
        quit       - quits lsicq
        randgroup  - searches for a random user group
        randuser   - searches for a random user
        reject     - reject whatever was requested of you
        reply      - reply to the last user who messaged you
        search     - search for someone
        send       - send a message to someone
        sendlast   - send a message to the person you sent to last
        sendurl    - send a url to someone
        status     - set your status (away/online/invisible, etc)
        update     - update your user info
        vis        - switch to visible mode (online)
        invis      - switch to invisible mode (fake offline)
	ignore     - silently discard all messages from user
        contactbox - turn on/off the contact box
        w          - list your contact list

     Scrolling backwards: In LSicq, it's also possible to scrollback,
  and see text that has gone out of the screen.  This can be done by using
  the "Page Up" and "Page Down" commands.

     Logs: In the \DATA directory, there will be subdirectories that have
  log files in them, just in case you need the data you were sent saved.

     Files: In the same directory where the log files are saved, files
  that were sent to you in LSicq are also saved.

     LSICQ.DAT: Once you've run LSicq for the first time, a \DATA directory
  will be created.  In that directory, you'll find the file LSICQ.DAT.  This
  file contains all the information about your current user.  It can be
  modified to fit your needs.  The only areas I can recommend editing are near
  the end.  You'll see something like this:

        cmd_vis=vis
        cmd_invis=invis
        cmd_contactbox=contactbox
        cmd_w=w
        cmd_deluser=deluser
        Contact000=7564719:W0rm

     Although there are more commands, these will suffice as an example.
  By changing what's after the equal sign, we can change the commands
  permanently, to feel more comfortable.  The contact list can also be
  edited to add more users or remove existing ones.  The above, for me,
  might be changed to something similar:

        cmd_vis=v
        cmd_invis=i
        cmd_contactbox=cb
        cmd_w=w
        cmd_deluser=du
        Contact000=7564719:W0rm
        Contact001=9999999:Another_User

     I've changed my my commands to shorter names, and added the user
  "Another_User" to my contact list, note that I updated the number to the
  left of it (001).




 5 - F.A.Q. 


  Q- LSicq freezes and/or crashes, what do I do?
  A- You contact W0rm (below) and explain what happened.

  Q- File sends (to others) screw up?
  A- Make sure your mtu is 1500, otherwise, report it.




 6 - Updates 


  Ver1.8: file transfer block size adjusted down to make keyboard more responsive
          random scrollback bugs fixed
          ignore command added
	  invisible command fixed to not need prior entry in contact list
	  mauled history during file transfers fixed
          ignored & people on invisible list don't get shown in contact list
	  crash when someone cancels a file transfer fixed.
          will now detect if the connection to the server is lost
          added a WATTCP callback to better keyboard response during file sends
          scrollback works smoothly now
  Ver1.7: File send description bug fixed,
          memory corruption bug fixed (crash/freeze).
  	  Alternate text mode support.
	  deluser command added.
	  random directory deletions fixed (DOS bug).
  Ver1.6: File send bug fixed.
  Ver1.5: File send/receive added.



 7 - Contact 


     Dave:
        E-Mail  : camille@bluegrass.net
        Status  : Programmer
        ICQ#    : 38422156
        Comment : Contact W0rm if you have any questions/comments.
        URL     : http://members.tripod.com/~ladsoft/lsicq

     W0rm:
        E-Mail  : w0rm101@yahoo.com
        Status  : Testing/Nagging
        ICQ#    : 7564719
        Comment : Hello.
        URL     : http://w0rm.8m.com

      LSicq:
        Status  : Not fully tweaked yet, needs a cool UI.
        Comment : Updated often.
        URL     : http://members.tripod.com/~ladsoft/lsicq

 
     D.Lindauers'
         
           
        
        
  The DOS ICQ Clone 
 
