>>Anyone know how I can provide Chat abilities in my software
>>using VFP?
>>
>>Thanks
>
>BTW, what are your Chat scenario and requirements?
>
>This is actually question to everybody. What would you use the chat capabilities in your VFP applications for? (except users chit-chat :) I have more ideas about this type of communication, but would like to know is there a demand for these things and what kind?


We're redesigning a vertical market application with a VFP front-end, and I anticipate using "chat" in two ways: 1) as a tech support mechanism for users to request help while online, and 2) as a peer-support communication tool. If you imagine an application being used in a library where quiet is required, you get the idea why "chat" would be useful. This isn't a library app, but the environment is such that phone calls could be obtrusive, so silent "chat" would be desirable.

I anticipate logging conversations, probably to DBF files. More important is encrypting messages as they travel over the wire, so that a sniffer cannot easily read sensitive information. This will operate over an Intranet or Internet. If there's a way to do this is a file-server network, that would be handy, too.

A chat session would probably occur in a non-modal VFP window, called from a toolbar or menu, so that multiple instances could be used. It would be cool if 3+ party chats were possible. I haven't decided whether the chat windows would appear inside the VFP GUI, or as top-level forms on the Windows desktop.

I hope this helps give you some ideas! Thanks for your contributions.