Freedom Chat Change Log

225 total entries

Version 2.0

• NickServ registration system is in place. It is now possible to register your nickname (including the activation process), change your password, and drop your nickname.
• Freedom Chat now places all user-specific settings except for computer lab mode settings into an INI file in the program directory. This makes it easy to install multiple copies of FC for use by different people.
• PLANNED FEATURE: You will be able to disable (auto-deny) all Private Chat requests, using a keyboard toggle.
• Freedom Chat is now fully multi-channel capable! You can join up to 10 channels and have over 10 private chat conversations active at once. By default, Freedom Chat will read to you only those events occuring in the currently focused window, and status events.
• PLANNED FEATURE: Freedom Chat will include a "voting" or "poll" system. Users with registered nicknames (this prevents abuse by someone repeatedly voting) will be able to vote on whatever polls the FC network has active at any given time. Polls can range from ideas about network features to conversational polls such as "How much did you like ... on TV?". Polls will always be anonymous unless otherwise specified. Results for selected polls will also be made available on FC's website.
• Freedom Chat is now retrieving most of its variable data from a Web URL instead of from custom bots on the network. This allows easier management of data for administrators and reduces the likelihood of problems should a custom bot be disconnected for any reason.

Version 1.7.5

• Cleaned up Nickname Registration dialog a bit; now does a check on password length since services requires it to be at least five characters long. (contributed by ace)
• Removed remaining code from the TalkingIRC site button in the About dialog. (contributed by ace)
• Removed TalkingIRC from authorised networks. (contributed by ace)
• Fixed /whois crashbug. (contributed by ace)
• It is now possible to supply your own quit message with the /QUIT command. (contributed by ace)
• Removed KILL message because it caused a Run-Time error. (contributed by ace)
• Fixed a typo that was a result of Aladdin's drunkin coding. (contributed by ace)

Version 1.7

• Fixed bug with /me actions being sent to channel while in a Private Chat
• Important Update. Now directs Freedom Chat to the new domain: irc.freedomchat.org. Following July 21st, all prior versions of Freedom Chat will cease to function. This is by design since old clients connect to the domain which will be expiring on that date.
• Added rudimentary encryption on the user ident and realname
• Message when joining a channel is now more descriptive: "Joining channel" rather than "Now chatting on" (contributed by ace)
• Now announces the topic on a channel when joining or when it is changed
• Now announces "You are talking on (channel)" when joining a room, instead of announcing your nickname.
• Added the project URL to the quit message
• The ability for channel hosts to change the topic is now available via the Chat menu.
• If you enter a /me message in the textbox then tab to the userlist and press enter on a nickname, the message is sent as an action to that user in private.
• Support for receiving notices is now available. Finally you can view Services help and receive other important notices from Services or other users!
• Removed TalkingIRC site commands from Help menu and About box since that site no longer exists.
• Fixed bug with automatic logging facilities.
• Fixed bug whereas certain Global Ignore query responses were not spoken

Version 1.6.5

• Bug fix - it is no longer possible for IRC-client users to flood rooms with "Ending private conversation" messages.
• Bug fix - it is no longer possible for IRC-client users to force FC users into private chats.
• Focus is now placed back on the nickname edit box if the OK button is pressed and no nickname is supplied.
• Changed the messages sent to the channel upon entering or leaving a private conversation.
• Freedom Chat will only present a private chat request to you only if it has been at least fifteen seconds prior to the last one. All requests during that time are auto-denied. This prevents people from repeatedly flooding users with PC requests. (contributed by cl)
• FC Sounds are now played asynchronously. This means that if your client receives a new sound request while one is still playing, that sound will be canceled. This will help cut back on sound floods.
• Text is buffered and only added to the history window once per second. We are not sure, but this may help some people experiencing the crashbug. Reports to irc@talkingirc.com would be helpful. Thanks.
• Suggestion box feature. You can post a suggestion from the Help menu and all of our administrators will be able to read it. (contributed by ace)
• The Zero Tolerance Ignore clear utility is now included in the FC distirbution. Find it under the Tools menu in your FC program group.
• Any of the following sounds may only be played five times per 30 seconds: Private Message, Pager. If the sound is played more than five times, it will not be played until the timer resets (every 30 seconds) Again, to prevent sound floods.
• Basic NickServ registration system in place. The following commands should work: Register, Activate, Change Password, Drop, Auto-Identify. These can all be found under the Services menu. This system may be buggy and will be updated in 2.0.

Version 1.6.1

• Bug fix - you can no longer add "blank" entries to your Watch list.
• Bug fix - you can no longer add a person to your watch list more than once.
• Bug fix - you can no longer send blank private or public messages.
• Bug fix - if you're not a channel host, you're no longer asked for a kick reason.
• Bug fix - the /part command no longer causes an error.
• Bug fix - the watch list should no longer present erroneous numbers in the tree view.
• Added "Confirm Exit" toggle to the Options menu. Uncheck to disable the exit confirmation dialog.
• VersionBot's notices are now presented in the MOTD dialog for easy reading and copy/paste.
• Added /whois command
• Fixed some bugs with administrative disconnects and outdated version reports.
• Notifies you if a person is marked away when you do a Whois or when you send private messages.
• Bug fix - sound effects are now played properly. (1.6.1a update)

Version 1.6

• Using Rich Edit box 3.0 - this should help alleviate some problems some are having with the textboxes crashing the program.
• Bug fix - the input box is now cleared after typing /accept.
• Bug fix - when switching channels either via the Channels List window or by accepting an invite, the user's nickname no longer disappears from the nicknames list.
• Now includes a JFW dictionary file to properly speak some emoticons and commonly-used acronyms. (contributed by ace)
• Many chanop-only functions are now unavailable if you are not a chanop - this avoids the illusion that you can do things you can't.
• Exit confirmation dialog box added.
• Likewise, all users will see the kick reasons given by FC users or any other IRC client. If no reason is given, that will also be noted.
• If the server chosen by the round-robin DNS happens to be unavailable, FC will automatically fall back on the hub server; our most reliable server.
• There is now a View Watch List window that works a la MSN Messenger's contact list. If you press Enter on a nick that is online, you will be able to send a page to that person.
• The Message of the Day now appears in an edit field for easier reading.
• A sound plays when an MOTD is displayed.
• A new MOTD will only be recognized if the date of the previous MOTD is different. (this will eliminate multiple showings of the MOTD on different servers since the updates aren't synchronous.)
• Fixed bugs in invite list. (contributed by ace)
• Implemented a "whois" feature - use shift+F3 on a nickname in the users list in either a channel or the channels list dialog. Or, choose Whois... from the Chat menu. (contributed by ace)
• Updated and modified help system.
• Redesigned "About" dialog. (contributed by ace)
• There is now a Change Nickname option under the Chat menu.
• Added "TalkingIRC Web Site..." to "Help" menu. (contributed by ace)
• /page - send a page to any user
• /invite - invite the specified nickname to the current room (only if channel host)
• /nick - change nickname
• /kick - kick a user with optional reason (only if channel host)
• /part - leave the room
• /speak - speak any text via your speech synth without sending it to the channel
• /quit - exit Freedom Chat
• Now receives and announces global notices from the server. Global notices contain important notices that all users should read if they appear. Globals can only be sent by network administrators.
• You can now specify a reason when kicking someone from a channel.

Version 1.5.1

• Fixed bug with the Invite system - it now works.
• Default server is now the distribution address for TalkingIRC; your connection will be made randomly with one of our network servers. (No matter which server you end up on, you'll still have the same chat experience.)

Version 1.5

• Fixed bug whereas empty actions could be sent. (contributed by ace)
• Watch List implemented. Using this feature (Options, Watch List), you can make a list of nicknames for which you will be notified when the users sign on or off of the chat server.
• We now support NickServ nickname identification. Registration will come later.
• Now supports Invites. You can invite people to the room you're in (if you're a channel host) by pressing Shift+F10 and choosing the user to invite. An Invite overrides channel security features.
• To accept invites, you'd type "/accept" after receiving notification of an invite. This works just like joining another channel using Control+L, that is, you leave the channel you're in to join the one you were invited to.
• Fixes bug whereas certain malicious code can execute StarFight games with people who did not request them.
• Fixes bug whereas certain malicious code can execute StarFight games with people who did not request them.

Version 1.4.1

• Fixed StarFight support to work with the new server.
• Fixed viewing of profiles. It now works again.
• We're using new compression in the installer - it dramatically reduces the file size!

Version 1.4

• Fixed bug as to where some nicknames could not be ignored.
• Fixed double part sound* You can no longer attempt to send sounds if you don't allow them to be played.
• Now blocked sending pages, sending sounds, and using Control-M if Global Ignore is on.
• You will now know if a person simply leaves the room or leaves the entire server.
• You will be notified if a person leaves the server "on purpose" or is abnormally disconnected.
• Got rid of the Admin mode. We'll refine it and re-implement it later.
• Implemented the Computer Lab Mode. This is in response to the possibility of running Freedom Chat on public-access computers such as those in blind schools, guide dog schools, adjustment centers, and so on. It could also theoretically be used for parental control. More information will be published in the next help file update. Note: Only available in the full installation.

Version 1.3.9

• New server. REQUIRED UPGRADE.
• Caps Lock Check mode. Ensures your caps lock is turned off after you type each message.

Version 1.3.6

• Fixed bug where one could send text even with Global Ignore on.
• Fixed bug with the Page command not working properly.
• Fixed issues with listboxes being populated multiple times in any dialog where the online users list is requested.
• Fixed problem with MSCOMCTL on NT/XP OS'es.
• Apparently people don't like the new sounds! So we put the old ones back. Really want the new ones? We'll post them on the site shortly as a separate package.

Version 1.3.5

• Changed a few event sounds.
• Updated the Help file again!
• Removed a double WHO-list request when opening Page/StarFight/etc dialogs.
• Now implementing the Zero Tolerance ignore system. If a person is on this blacklist, they *never* appear to be online to you. Check the Chat menu.
• You can now bring up the channel list even if you are in a room. If you are already in a room and you join another, you're automatically parted from the room you are in before you join the new one.
• Now using a standard Windows Status Bar for the status line info in both the main window and the channel list window.

Version 1.3

• Now supports Freedom Millionaire Phone-a-Friend!
• The infrastructure for Freedom Games is now complete! A future update may be necessary when more games are ready.
• Asks upon first start about Freedom Millionaire Phone-a-Friend availability.
• Additional checks to trap and ignore overflows in the FCSOUND command
• Now you will know what sounds are being sent even if you have the sounds turned off

Version 1.2.5

• Fixed bug with "female" radio button in the profiler.
• Fixed bug with /msg and /me commands failing.
• Fixed bug with joins/parts to oper channel being announced when a person is an IRC op.
• When in admin mode, the channel list window is suppressed until after admin logon is completed.

Version 1.2.4

• Fixes bug with ProfileBot's control messages being interpreted as private messages.

Version 1.2.2

• Another important bug fix with the Winsock parser. Sorry about the hardships folks…

Version 1.2.1

• Fixes major Winsock parse update bug.
• JAWS configuration files auto-installer now included.

Version 1.2

• Fully new implementation of the String functions library. Incredible optimizations!
• The form is now fully dynamically resizeable and all form controls will resize to match the form size.
• Moved the code to handle online users and channel lists to the appropriate dialog boxes. No longer will you sit at the main dialog waiting for the channel list to come up because the list hasn't fully arrived yet; nor will you end up with the "double-entries" problem in the channel or user listboxes.
• New options for Print size: Normal, Large, Very Large, and Extra Large.
• Updated the Winsock parse routines. This should help reduce or eliminate missed lines of text during parsing.
• The profile system has been updated so a profile can be edited without re-entering all of its text.
• Eliminated the "View All Profiles" option that takes you to the Web page. Now, the View a Profile option displays *all* users who currently have registered profiles with Freedom Chat.

Version 1.1.5

• Profile system BETA implementation now completed. When you connect, to make a profile choose "Create profile" under the Options menu. To view other profiles choose either "View a user's profile" or "View all profiles" under the Options menu.
• The "Check Global Ignore" status now also can tell you if someone is in a private chat, or in a StarFight game.
• Implementation for BOFHNet's IgnoreServ, to update the Ignore list of bots upon each connect
• VERY RUDIMENTARY nick name identification system. You must already have a registered nickname to use this. If the nick you choose is registered, you'll simply be asked for its password upon connect. Later version will implement full NickServ operations wizard.

Version 1.1

• SAPI 5 Configuration Window - allows you to set the preferred speech engine and rate. These settings are maintained across sessions.
• Sounds no longer play for join/part if you're in a private conversation
• Observes the chat server's throttling rules and warns user if they're reconnecting too quickly.
• Automatically Save Transcripts option - when enabled, all chats are automatically saved in the Transcripts folder with filenames representing the channel names.
• Fixes bug with ACTIONs (/me) not being ignored when a user's public messages are being ignored
• Ability to recognize when someone is a channel host (@ sign prefixing the nick in the listbox)
• If you are a channel host, F4 kicks selected member in listbox
• If you are a channel host, Shift+F4 bans selected member
• If you are a channel host, F8 toggles selected member's channel host status
• F7 to access the channel ban list. (you must be an op to un-ban addresses.)
• Recognizes when people gain and lose channel host status (chanop)
• The input box starts dinging if it contains more than 256 characters of text, which is the practical limit per message on IRC. (The textbox will not stop accepting data, but be warned that your message may be truncated)
• Admin mode client now available - contact BOFHNet administrators for more information if you are an administrator

Version 1.0

• F10 no longer activates the menus when sending pages
• Message of the Day - the MOTD is retained and checked upon each connect, and if it has changed it is presented upon connect.
• Command to see the current MOTD at any time from the Help menu
• Help file finished! yay!
• Global Ignore now also ignores pages and sounds and automatically denies StarFight and private chat requests.
• More context sensitive help added
• First stable release

Version 0.98

• 13 Fun Sounds added (hit F3 to select a sound) - all users who have the most recent version and have sounds on will hear the sounds
• Closing the Speech Synthesizer change box without setting a new synth no longer exits the program.
• Message box when the connection is closed unexpectedly (e.g. when a modem link drops)
• Shift+Control+R to send a *raw* IRC message. DON'T USE UNLESS YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!
• Recognizes a few more "can't join channel" conditions.
• You can no longer request to ignore yourself.
• When you create a channel, spaces are replaced with underscores to prevent improper channel names.
• Global Ignore now ignores private chat requests and Star fight game requests
• Default answer for private chat invitation is now "no"
• Basic context-sensitive help implemented using the F2 key
• The user listbox no longer "shrinks" if you switch in and out of large print mode
• Fixed the tab order in the user ignore options
• option to clear the user ignore list on the chat menu
• "idiot-proofing" you can't request starfight games or private chats with yourself
• check a user's Global Ignore status (tab to the list box and hit Shift F11)

Version 0.92

• Large print mode for visually-impaired users on the options menu
• Fixed bug with the status bar (sometimes it reads a nick from the user listbox if there are a lot of people in the room)
• Ignore function per user now available. (tab to user listbox and hit F12 on a nick to select options)
• you can ignore public, private, page, chat request, and SF request messages per user
• Framework for the upcoming BOFHNet Freedom Games is laid, however no games exist as of yet. :)

Version 0.86

• now includes the SetServer module to change the star fight server to the proper irc server* enabled scroll bar on the history window

Version 0.85

• new splash screen/sound
• Accessible StarFight support works! This detects StarFight the same way Accessible Chat did, so you may have to reinstall Accessible StarFight.
• History box is now a Rich Text box, so it can handle much larger history sizes without crashing/deleting text.
• kick feature using the F4 key for channel ops (hosts) - tab to the userlist and select a user to kick with f4
• global ignore is a menu option as well now under the chat menu
• network authorization - client can only be used on the BOFHNet network
• custom icon for the desktop (ok, not necessary really, but does kinda make it look a bit nicer)
• fixed a problem with people who have null usernames in windows not being able to connect

Version 0.75

• Users list implemented, you can now see who's onlinein the channel listbox. (people with asterisk * next totheir nick are not on any channel)
• Pager implemented. enter text into input field, hit F10, and select user from the user listbox that pops up
• Sound for pager added to distribution

Version 0.72

• Fixed bug with crash when someone changes their nickname
• Implemented "Global Ignore" - shift+f12 toggles
• Now recognizes if you try using a "forbidden" nickname

Version 0.7

• If you are browsing the history box, the insertion point no longer moves when messages are received.
• New sound when you send a private message. Thanks to my keyboard.
• Replaced sound when you receive a private message.
• No sounds when you are in a private conversation. We need them, why?
• New sound to indicate connection was successful.
• Users are now notified if you're already in a private conversation so they can't try to start one with you as well.
• Now speaks outgoing private message conversation text.
• The send button is now hidden from tab focus, so JFW users won't see it when they tab around the form.

Version 0.68

• Lowered the volume on the private message sound.
• Added support for private message conversations using the F9 key.
• Fixed major bug with leaving channels (runtime error 91).
• Escape clears input field

Version 0.67

• MAJOR bug fixed with sending text in channels (er, um, it like didn't work at all and things, after 0.66's fix?...grin)

Version 0.66

• Moved the send code from the key capture to an actual command button to eliminate the "ding"
• Fixed bug with where if the first nick listed in the listbox would quit IRC, it would not be removed from the listbox

Version 0.63

• Fixed problem with the history box - it freezes after it receives too much text.
• The program is now named Freedom Chat.

Version 0.6

• Initial public release! Sound the drums!!
• Correctly handles many cannot join channel conditions.
• Create Channel dialog now complete

Version 0.4

• Recognizes kicks
• Recognizes nick changes
• Beginning work on the Create Channel dialog
• The channel list box is now complete

Version 0.3

• /me command and Action keystroke implemented
• nick listbox now properly updates on joins/parts
• Now beginning work on the channels list box

Version 0.2

• The tab-and-enter keystroke works for sending private messages. Can't forget those privates…
• Implemented the first of the sounds.
• It now knows if your nick is taken upon connecting.
• Doing well. We can now join and part channels

Version 0.1

• Ok, we can talk to a channel. Even more woo-hoo.
• And we can receive text from that channel. Wow!
• And we can see who's on that channel! oh my god…

Version 0.05

• It joined a channel. More woo-hoo.

Version 0.01

• It connects. Woo-hoo.

Version 0.005

• The modIRC code was ported from OCX module to class module.

Version 0.000

• Well, is there such a version??...I'm looking at a blank VB project now... time to start coding I guess!

Freedom Changelog/1.0 PHP/5.3.0
(C) 2005 Freedom Software
It is Wednesday, March 10th 2010 - 07:55:59 PM