For details on the latest build of PopNote or
the history of its various versions and bug fixes,
visit the build an bug page.
The following questions were obtained from e-mails,
PopNote chats and voice conversations on various VOIP
services. The users comments may have been edited for clarity
and brevity. The answers are my own. Few people are
patient enough to read FAQ's, but 99% of the time
your questions are already answered here or in PopNote's
Documentation.
Q> I tried
everything to get PopNote to operate and failed. I have
DSL, a Router and XP. My router is in DMZ mode and the
native XP firewall is disabled. Where do I go
now?
A>
Lately a lot of port block problems have been isolated
to Westel's newer DSL modems. They contain a
rudimentary firewall and by default they block all non
standard incoming ports. The good news is you can turn
the blocking off. Ask your DSL provider for your Modems
IP address and using your Browser, enter its
configuration menu. You want to enable something like
IP or Port Passthrough or Forwarding or DMZ mode!
CAVEAT: I hope you intend to run a good software
firewall on your PC!
Q> I am on a
Digital Modem and never turn my computer off; I also
keep PopNote running. But I notice after a day or two
my friends can no longer popnote me unless I close
PopNote and rerun it?
A>
The likelihood is that your ISP changed your
dynamic IP to a new one. This is very common with ISP
services provided by telephone companies where the
number of users is large but their range of available
dynamic IP's is not. There are several solutions to
your problem. Every morning you could go to PopNote's
Network menu and choose "Force IP Update" or just click
"Auto IP Updater", in which case PopNote will check for
a new IP every 10 minutes.
Q> I read your
"how to fix popnote problems" document very carefully.
You suggested, among other things, that my DSL modem
may be blocking most incoming ports by default and thus
stopping me from receiving echos on port 54539 of the
Popnotes I send. You suggested setting my DSL modem to
"IP Pass Through" mode. I contacted Bell South (my
provider) for exact instructions on how to do that.
They STRONGLY suggested not to do it, insinuating I
would be opening up my system to virii, worms, spyware
and malware. Why would you suggest that?
A>
Imagine pouring flour into a strainer over a empty
stirring pot. Now take 3 more strainers and add them
all in between. If the strainers are all identical,
will the falling flour be sifted any finer? NO! It may
even pass through a lot slower. You need just ONE good
firewall to stop problems. Typically a modem can act as
a firewall; a Router can act as a firewall; the
operating system can include a firewall; and you can
run any of many 3rd party software firewalls. But is it
necessary to use them all? NO. But by all means you
should have a firewall running - a fully configurable
firewall. Bell South's advice was not totally wrong,
just only one piece of the big puzzle.
Q> I have
watched several of my friends use PopNote and would
love to get it working correctly on my PC. They all say
they get "my" PopNotes but no one can send to me. I
have tried all their suggestions and still have
problems. Where do I go from here?
A> I
sympathizes with your frustration but the only
plausible answer to your situation is that you are
overlooking the point (or points) where your port
blocks are occurring. PopNotes travel directly between
PC's over the Internet using two unique UDP ports
(54539 and 54539). Packets using these two UDP ports
must have unfettered access from the public Internet
(Port Forwarded) to your PC. This means passing through
your modems firewall (yes, new DSL modems now have
rudimentary firewalls - but you can set them to IP PASSTHROUGH
mode); Port Forwarding your Router (if one is
involved); Port Forwarding or disabling your PC's
internal firewall, and Port Forwarding any 3rd party
software firewall that may be installed. In rare cases
you may have to totally disable internal PC firewalls
and un-install flaky existing 3rd party software firewalls,
replacing them with better ones. Unfortunately it is
beyond the scope of this FAQ to go beyond this
explanation; only to assure you that your problem IS
solvable and without compromising the security on your
PC. A lot of good hints and help is available in
PopNote's online Documentation. At this point I
recommend you go there.
Q> I recall
reading somewhere in your documentation that you
recommend using a software firewall on a computer
connected to a node on a router. Why is this necessary?
Isn't the Router a firewall?
A>
Good question. The router will block anything incoming
unless you have enabled specific port forwarding for
legitimate software you use on that node. In other
words, anything trying to act as a server that you don't
approve of, wont receive. What most routers wont do is
block spy ware etc from phoning home (sending packets
outbound). If it did, your legitimate clients, like a
web browser or email client would not function
properly. What a software firewall can do (like
ZoneAlarm) is notify you of any software on your system
that is attempting to "send" or "receive" over the
Internet. Thus, the use of a software firewall on a PC
connected to a Router depends on your level of
paranoia and desired security.
Many users seem to expect they will luck out or that
all programs should work right out of the box.
Unfortunately life is no longer simple thanks to the
deviate minds who enjoy breaking into someone elses
computer. I think I have done everything within MY
power to help guide a potential user through the maze
of obsticles in Modems, Routers and Software Firewalls.
Finally, let me remind you of one of Aesop's Fables,
that of "The Fox and the Grapes" <smile> My
position is that if you have a genuine need for the
unique free services that PopNote can provide, you will
overcome the obstacles.
Q>
My PopNote address file (PopNoteA.CFG) has grown
rather large. I want to edit and trim it down but
deleting one IP at a time will take me forever.
What else can I do?
A>
Editing the PopNoteA.cfg file can be done but requires
skill typically beyond that of the average user. With
that being said, any basic text or ascii editor (such
as Windows Notepad or even PopNote itself) can be used
for that purpose. A better, more professional editor
like UltraEdit allows creation of a Macro that can
easily automate the process. Here are things you need
to pay attention to. Each data line consist first of
the IP address, padded out to 15 columns with spaces if
the IP is not exactly 15 columns itself; second the ID
or User Name, padded out to 15 columns with spaces if
the ID is not exactly 15 columns, for a total line
length of 30 columns, which is then terminated by a CRLF
pair. The resulting file in bytes should always be
evenly divisable by 32. I strongly suggest you use
Ctrl-N to backup the files before you wind up holding
your head in your hands.
Q>I need some
help with PopNote but I feel guilty asking because I
never donated. However I heard you give help anyway.
So, how do I run PopNote on different Ports <G>
A>I
never object to providing support to private users.
However, you can help support PopNote in a non monetary
way by offering suggestion and making bug reports. To
run PopNote on other ports, its just a matter of
creating a PopNote shortcut with a command tail in the
Target field. The command tail would consist of the two
new ports separated by spaces. It would look similar
to this: c:\POPNOTE\POPNOTE.EXE 54579 54580 CAUTION:
Using ports already opened by other running
client/servers could cause severe conflicts.
Q>I have two
PopNote friends whose names are Steve. When I am
communicating with both of them it changes the IP of my
<Steve> User Button to the IP of the last Steve who
sent me a PopNote. How can I get TWO <Steve>
buttons?
A> For
now, ask one of them to change their ID from Steve to
Steve2, or add a middle initial, like Steve.J, OR use
anything thats different. Meanwhile, I am working on
other coding solutions.
Q>I just
installed PopNote and sent you (K5HUM) a PopNote but
got no Echo or a reply. What gives?
A>I
get a lot of PopNotes from people trying PopNote for
the first time. I ALWAYS reply. However, when I fail
to receive back the Echo of my reply from the remote, I
know the user "probably" has firewall blocking issues
(they can send out but not receive and echo back). I
suggest users send me their email address rather than
"testing" then I would be happy to email that I got the
PopNote and that they are half way home! NOTE: PopNote
requires UDP ports 54538 AND 54539 to have unfettered
access through your system.
Q>What is the
best procedure to use when first sending a PopNote to a
remote who has a FQDN?
A>Depends. If this is your first attempt to
PopNote in some time or more than a few hours has
elapsed since you last communicated, I suggest you use
their FQDN from your address window first. This will
get back the IP address the remote "last" acquired.
Assumming that IP has not changed since they went
online with PopNote, you could then resume using the
"User Button" thats populated with their Nickname.
Overall, a lot depends on your experience with the
remote. Some users have ISP's who change their dynamic
IP's frequently, others not so, and others never or
rarely if they leave their modem/routers connected.
NOTE: If a PopNote user can afford the extra few
dollars a month, I strongly recommend they change to a
static IP address. Also, if the remote sent you a
recent email, a clever person could get the remotes IP
at the time that mail was sent from the remotes email
headers.
Q>Is PopNote
compatible with Microsofts new Vista?
A>
Absolutely, Yes.
Q> I thought I
would mention that I find it annoying that PopNote
jumps on top of whatever Im doing when a PopNote comes
in. And if it annoys me, it must annoy others?
A>Hold
on, there is something important to remember here. You
can, of course, turn off PopUps, OnTop, and Sound, but
if you do, unless you are super vigilant and check
every so often, how will you every know you got a
PopNote? You could try turning PopUps OFF and leave
sound ON. That way you at least have an audio signal
when a PopNote arrives. However, I recommend you leave
all the default settings alone and when a PopNote comes
in, just MINIMIZE it for later disposition. This way 1)
you know you got a Popnote, 2) had a chance to gauge
its importance and 3) can deal with it whenever.
Q> Is there any
easy way to share my PopNote Address book with other
users?
A>Yes,
you could FTP your PopNoteA.CFG file to your friend,
assuming you have the PopToys FTP utility installed.
Baring that, do the following. First save the current
memory Address List to the PopNoteA.CFG file using the
Ctrl-L hotkeys. Next go to the Edit/OpenFile Menu
choice. Select PopNoteA.CFG, click OK. The List will
now appear on screen. Make sure your friends address
is in the upper active window of the address picklist,
then click Send and walla, they get it. NOTE:
Version 2.2+ incorporates a new built in "User share"
feature.
Q> Im confused
about the difference between "Save Chat" and "Auto
Record". Could you elaborate more?
A>"Save Chat" records what showing in the
upper chat window ("Save Chat Clr" does the same but
also clears the chat window so you know you did a
save). "Auto Record" writes whatever is incoming
(including echos) from the receiving sockets. Aside
from also writing to the SCREEN.TXT file; "Auto Record"
also (by default) creates and records into unique
USER.TXT files (with USER being a remote's nicname).
This last feature can be toggled off/on with Ctrl-
O. NOTE: Build 2.3.2+ now allows the state of Auto
Record to be saved.
Q> How do I use
the new "Find" feature? Where do I enter the Search
string?
A>
RTM. The Search string goes into the Send window. I
suggest if you are displaying a large text to Search,
like perhaps the Chat Log, you temporarily turn Monitor
to OFF to avoid incoming Popnotes that will upset the
scroll point.
Q> I am having
strange problems with PopNote's Print feature. Is it my
printer or PopNote trouble?
A>
Depends. Try selecting a different Font for PopNote,
something generic and universal like Courier New, 10
point. If problems persist, go to Start/Run and type in
"NOTEPAD.EXE C:\URPATH2POPNOTE\PNHELP.TXT" (less
quotes) and click Ok. Once the file is displaying in
Microsoft's Notepad, try printing again from Notepad's
Print Menu.
Q> I notice
that the PopNote install/distribution utility installs
various text (*.txt) files. How can I read them?
A>
After doing the install, and using Windows Explorer
(the OS file manager), double click (as an example)
pn_faq.txt, this should open the text file in what is
currently Windows default text viewer. Incidentally you
can easily make any text editor that you prefer using,
the Windows default viewer. Finally, you can
easily read text files from within PopNote itself by
going to PopNote's "Edit" menu and selecting "Open
file". The file will display in PopNote's main chat
window. Note: Version 2.3+ now has a text search
feature.
Q> What is the
easiest way to make backups of popnote.exe and my
address file?
A> Use
Ctrl-N Forgive the terse reply but this is covered in
popnote's Help.
Q> I am annoyed
that I cannot close PopNote the traditional way with
the [X] in the top right corner?
A> I
hear this every now and then but overwelmingly the
majority of users like the [X] to minimize PopNote
since they frequently mis click the [-] sign and
unintentionally click [X] and close PopNote. In any
case, you can EASILY exit PopNote by right clicking the
PopNote Icon in the Tooltray, or use "Exit" from the
Main menu, OR, use Ctrl-K. Any of which will close
PopNote.
Q> What is the
largest popnote I can send?
A> The
receive buffer is 8192 bytes however I am not certain
how backbone router packet fragmentation might affect
(if at all) a large UDP packet. I have sent several K
without difficulty.
Q> Why is it
necessary for PopNote to get my WAN IP from an outside
site? Isnt that available directly off my PC like the
IPCONFIG utility gets it?
A>
Great question. Yes and No. The problem comes into play
when a router is installed in between your modem and
your PC or PC's. Even if you are only running one PC,
you effectively have a LAN. Your router issues a non
routable IP to your PC through its built in DHCP
server. Under these conditions your PC's NIC etc has
this non routable IP only and no idea what your WAN IP
to the outside world is. Your Router takes care of all
the addressing translations between your WAN or Net IP
and your LAN non routable IP. In any case, PopNote
still needs your WAN IP. Now, without a Router, YES,
PopNote could just poll your WinSock for your local IP,
which in this case would also be the same as your WAN
IP. Since 90% of the world is now using broadband (vi
DSL/Digital Modem's with built in Routers, or with
stand alone Routers) I see no reason for PopNote to
offer an "either or" WAN IP option.
Q> I received a
PopNote with the IP portion of the address missing.
What happened?
A>
This is a rare occurance but it means the senders
PopNote program failed to acquire their WAN IP address.
Under these circumstances the party receiving such a
PopNote would not be able to reply to "that" incoming
PopNote as their address window would be blank (void)
of the senders WAN IP address. Bottom line, problem
needs to be resolved on senders end. However, a future
build of PopNote will prevent this.
Q> I am
handicaped. Could you recommend a decent free utility
to read aloud an incoming PopNote?
A>
Yes, if you are using Windowd XP, XP comes with a
decent text to speach converter called Narrator. Find
it here: C:\WINDOWS\system32\narrator.exe.
Q> If I
understand correctly, the Echo is a confirmation the
remote got my PopNote? So, no echo, no delivery?
A> No,
not really. Its possible the popnote WAS delivered but
it was the returning echo that got scuttled. If you are
interested, search Google on the "UDP protocol" for
advantages and limitations of using the UDP
protocol.
Q> I love the
custom Away message. Why not build an easy way from
within PopNote to modify it?
A> Its
already there. Just use "Edit/Open File" then
"Edit/Save as". PS: Imagine how much more efficient
you would be if you took some time to read the help
file Note: In the more recent builds you can
write an Away message on the fly.
Q> I was
exchanging PopNotes with a bud the other day when I
suddenly missed an echo back of what I had just sent.
Should I just assume a lost UDP packet?
A> The
answer depends on a lot of possibilities. Before I
digress, I suggest you use the "Recover Send" choice
under the "PopToys" menu, (or Ctrl-U) then retry
Sending. These days it is rare that a UDP datagram gets
scuttled but it happens. UDP (or a similar customized
"raw" packet) is now widely used in the VOIP world.
When a UDP packet is lost, it is more likely it was
lost somewhere in transit over the Internet. This is
not to rule out some problem with either peer's
operation. Example, when your bud is in Cloaking mode
you also wont get an echo.
Q> What purpose
does it serve to poll a users PopNote Version or build
numbers?
A> The
version echo helps me diagnose compatibility problems.
I will likely remove it in future builds. Meanwhile,
its coded in the open. Meaning you will see and know if
someone is doing a version request.
Q> I thought
2.0 was downward compatible with 1.5, but when I send
with 1.5 to a 2.0 user I don't receive the usual
returning echo of what I sent. Why?
A>
Because you haven't upgraded to 2.0 :) However, if you
insist on sticking with 1.5, you could toggle local
"Echo ON".
Q> As soon as I
select a menu choice, the menu closes. How can I be
sure the change I wanted took place?
A> Pay
attention to the status bar.
Q> I notice the
PopNote self installer that is available for download
on your web site still has an old version of 1.5. Do
you plan to update it?
A>
Yes, its done. However, it might still be one or two
builds behind. Just do an Help/Upgrade.
Note: I have since written my own custom installer
which is how PopNote is being distributed as of July
2007.
Q> When I view
this file from PopNote Help/PopNote FAQ or the Doc file
from the Web, I am getting an older file than a buddy.
Why?
A>
More than likely you are reading your local cache. Try
holding the Ctrl key down while you click on the
Browsers Reload button to "force" a reload. Or, clear
your Browsers cache and retry.
Q> How can
Ctrl-S or Q work with the new User buttons? A>
Good question. The best way I can answer is to remind
you that the last person you receive a PopNote "from"
is the one that goes to the top of the address list,
and accordingly, is the active address used when you
reply vi Ctrl-S Ctrl-Q OR the Send button. Likewise, if
you select another address, which brings it to the top
of the list, then that address becomes the active
address. In other words, the new User Buttons have
nothing to do with, and work independently of, the top
or current IP in the Address list and the Hot
Keys.
Q> How can I
stop PopNote from minimizing every time I send
text?
A>
With PopUp's ON, Ctrl-B(t) will temporarily Block
popdowns. Or, you could turn PopUps OFF(t). If you
elect to turn PopUp OFF, its recommended you leave
"Sound ON" otherwise you will never be alerted when a
popnote arrives without periodically normalizing
PopNote's main screen. Here is another tip. Its wise
to also set "OnTop ON" so if PopNote does popup, it
will appear on top of any other open applications on
your desktop, rather than buried under, and unseen.
Note: (t) represents a function that can be toggled or
"switched" ON or OFF by subsequent clicks.
Q> I think I
messed up the PopNoteD2.CFG file by trying to manually
edit it. What info do I need to create a new
one?
A>
Better to Close PopNote, delete the corrupted one, run
PopNote again and let it build you a new one. Just
remember to toggle back on all your favorite
options.
Q> We have an
office with 150 PCs on a company LAN. Can PopNote be
used internally on our LAN to communicate between our
workstations?
A> Absolutely! Without
consideration of your company System Administrator and
his control of your company Router, all you need know
is the local (non routable) IP of each terminal like:
192.168.123.101
192.168.123.102
192.168.123.103
The only drawback is that PopNote may have to be in
Cloaking mode (this could vary) and might return the
company WAN IP, requiring you to re-address PopNote's
address window prior to sending again.
NOTE: As of version 2.1 PopNote now features a true LAN
mode that facilitates communicating effortlessly over a
LAN.
Q> Is there a
DELETE file function built into PopNote?
A>
Yes, its part of the "Open File" function under the
"Edit" menu. When the "pick a file" Browse window
opens, right click the file you wish to delete, choose
"Delete" and the file selected will be moved to your
Recycle bin.
Q> I liked the
pale yellow color of the main chat window when I first
installed PopNote. But I cannot seem to get it back
after I changed it.
A> Its
available as a "Custom" color from the rainbow
selection. However, another fix is to Extract
PopNoteD2.cfg from the original ZIP and copy/replace it
to your PopNote folder. OR, if you are feeling lucky,
edit PopNoteD2.cfg and substitute "14547707" (less
quotes) for whatever is showing "above" the Nic name
line.
Q> I cant seem
to change the height of PopNotes main window.
Howcome?
A> Try
expanding the width first, then the height. Then drag
the window where you want it positioned on your
desktop. PopNote will remember the size and position
after you close the program and rerun it.
Q> Why can't I
close PopNote with the usual [X] in the top right
corner of the programs window?
A>
That was disabled to prevent inadvertent shutdowns with
sloppy mouse clicks when trying to minimize. You can
use Ctrl-K or the Exit choice from the Main menu. In later
versions of PopNote, the X will minimizes like the [-] when
PopUps are ON.
Q> I tried to
send a friend a URL but it did not work. Why?
A>
Assuming it was a good URL, you must remember to use
both a preceeding and trailing space before and after
the URL. In addition, the URL should always be prefixed
with the protocol's ID as in this example:
HTTP://WWW.CNN.COM. Finally, because most users operate
PopNote in OnTop mode, its possible the Browser opened
but UNDER PopNote.
Q> I was
chatting with Bob, then Ted sent a message.
Inadvertently my reply to Bob went to Ted. Why?
A> The
address window is always updated by the LAST person's
address who sent you a message. You only need to set
the address window to your intended recipient.
NOTE: With the User buttons in later versions of
PopNote, its much easier to choose the correct
recipient.
Q> I am
confused over the difference between a PopNote versus
real time chatting. Can you explain?
A>
Real time chatting means you send a message with the
expectation of an immediate reply. The chat screen
stay up all the time. To real time chat using PopNote
you typically use the lower dialog box to type and send
messages. PopUps are usually set to OFF, Stay OnTop is
ON, and with recent versions of PopNote, local echo is
OFF. With a PopNote, you can optionally send dialog
from either the top or bottom window, with the
expectation that a reply may or may not be immediate.
People who are typically busy at their workstation
prefer PopNotes. When you send a popnote from the top
window, the screen momentarily disappears, then
reappears when the remote receives it and echoes it
back. If the dancing window, minimizing then returning
- annoys you, the popdown (minimizing) can be disabled
with Ctrl-B
Q> I am a touch
typist and I am experiencing occasional problems
returning focus to the Send dialog window. If I use a
left mouse click its ok but I rather not have my hands
leave the keyboard?
A>Try
using the "Alt&Tab" keys to restore focus.
Q> Is there a
limit to the size of an AWAY.TXT file?
A>
Yes. It should be under 512 bytes and 8 lines.
Q> Why is AWAY
turned OFF and grayed out when I toggle Cloak
ON?
A>
Because AWAY is dependent on Cloak being OFF. If you
toggle Cloak ON, PopNote can no longer reply
automatically with either an echo of the incoming
PopNote OR an away message.
Q> Im confused
about Cloaking. Can you elaborate?
A> The
best analogy is Yahoo's Invisible chat mode, wherein
you can receive messages but no one knows you are
online or available. With "Cloak On" it amounts to the
same thing. An incoming message will not be echoed
back; the only indication that your IM was received and
therefore the remote was monitoring.
Q> Can PopNote
record chat dialog as it occurs?
A>
Yes, but you can also save chat dialog manually by
going to the Edit menu, then select "Save Chat Clr"
after a session. This will "append" the existing
session to previously saved sessions and clear the
screen. You can also immediately view the screen.txt
file (where the chat dialog is stored) by going to
Edit/Show Chatlog OR pressing Ctrl-R. Note: The
August 2007 releases of PopNote now has a new Auto
Record feature that records to individual files
according to the users name.
Q> Why is the
Upgrade menu choice grayed out?
A> The
Upgrade menu is grayed out to prevent conflicts while
in Monitor (receive - listening) mode. Just click
"Monitor On" under the Network menu to toggle it to
OFF. The grayed Upgrade menu will ungray.
Q> Why have two
screens for sending a PopNote?
A>
There are several reasons. First it offers some choice
as to how you wish to operate. Second, it was to
maintain similarity with another client that myself and
many of my friends were using, and that I created
PopNote to superceed. Third, it allows some flexibility
in coding new features.
Q> I need more
time to see my IP. Can I stop the program from clearing
the opening Logo screen after 10 seconds and minimizing
to the ToolTray?
A>
Yes, just toggle PopUps off, close the program then run
it again. Just remember to turn PopUps ON again if you
want that feature operational. NOTE: Use Ctrl-G
on the latest versions of PopNote to STOP the opening
screen from minimizing.
Q> I started
with an old copy of PopNote which works ok but I would
now like to upgrade to get both the latest build of
PopNote and the PopToys. Whats the best way?
A> Download the PopNote
Installer utility.
Unzip popnote_se.zip and then run pne_install.exe
contained therein. Change (if necessary) the default
installation folder to where your copy of PopNote is
located (if other than C:\POPNOTE). Read and follow the
instructions. CAVEAT: To keep your original
configuration and address book, when the Installer asks
to overwrite PopnoteA.CFG and PopnoteD2.cfg say NO.
Otherwise overwrite all other files! Thats it, you are
now upgraded.
Q> Why is the
help document file (pnhelp.txt) changing so much? For
that matter, why so many upgrades in such short periods
of time?
A>
Good observations. Mainly it is to get new features out
ASAP, as well as any bug fixes. Please understand that
PopNote now consist of several thousand lines of code
and I am just one guy. TIA for your patience.
NOTE: Since build 2.3.6 PopNote's documentation has
moved to the Web .
Q> How often
should I check for an upgrade?
A>
There is no best answer. I fix bugs as soon as they are
reported (at least the ones I can duplicate and find).
Builds with "new" features may or may not coincide with
bug or maintenance releases. I run and test "any" new
builds on my servers for a minimum of a week before I
make them publicly available for upgrade.
Q> I used the
new PNE_INSTALL to upgrade my PopNote and lost my old
IP and config files. What happened?
A> PNE
was not originally intended to be used to upgrade but
rather to do new installations. However, the latest
PNE_INSTALL (available for download now) will ASK
before it overwrites any pre existing files (like
PopNoteA.cfg etc). Just pay attention when the
appropriate file comes up and say NO, skip and dont
overwrite.
Q> I tryed to
upgrade PopNote but the old version ran again, what
happened?
A>
Apparently the latest HotBasic compiler broke the
original upgrade.exe engine distributed with builds
2.1.0 thru 2.2.0 of PopNote. A new upgrade.exe engine
is now available on the web site at:
http://arc.tzo.com/ham/upgrade.zip Unzip and copy the
new upgrade.exe over the old upgrade.exe in PopNote's
folder. The new upgrade.exe should fix the problem, but
make sure you either overwrite or delete the old
upgrade.exe first. Also, if popnote.upg exist in
PopNotes folder, delete it. Upgrading should work
again. Another quicker fix (after a failed
upgrade attempt) is to close PopNote then use Windows
Explorer to go into popnote's folder, delete
popnote.exe, then rename popnote.upg to popnote.exe
However, you still need to get the new upgrade.exe
utility. If you go this rename route, the latest build
(2.2.1) of file popnote.upg, should be exactly 135168
bytes to be valid and thus renamed to popnote.exe
(Deleting and renaming is what the upgrade.exe utility
normally does automatically). If anyone experiences
further problems please let me know immediately.
NOTE: As of version 2.2.1, the upgrade.exe utility is
now built into PopNote as a resource.
Q> Why must I
upgrade twice before I succeed?
A>
This has been an ongoing puzzle affecting less than 10%
of the PopNote users. In any case, if this problem
applies to you, I created a revised upgrade.exe utility
that is available here:
http://arc.tzo.com/ham/upgrade.zip
To learn how upgrade.exe works, go here:
http://arc.tzo.com/ham/pn_tech_up.txt
NOTE: As of version 2.2.1+, the upgrade.exe utility is
now built into PopNote as a resource. The fixes
mentioned above are no longer relevant.
Q> I don't have
a static IP. A friend suggested I email him my IP when
I want him to call me. But, how do I get my IP?
A>
PopNote will indicate your WAN IP when you first load
the program. Or, if you wish, select "Force IP
UpDate". Another round-about way to get your IP is to
log onto my web server at "arc.tzo.com", the home page
will tell you your current IP.
There is an even better way. Anyone can get a free
subdomain address on the Net. This is offered by
"www.dyndns.org" Lets say you and your bud have a free
subdomain address. Lets say you are jim.homeip.net and
he is paul.homeip.net You both run PopNote anytime your
PC are on and you are connected to the Net. You desire
to call Paul. You type paul.homeip.net into the IP/FQDN
edit window and click "FQDN Add" in the IPFile menu.
His IP then appears in the Address window and is added
to PopNoteA.cfg, PopNote's address file. Select it and
Send him a message. He automatically gets your IP with
the message you sent.
Q> How do I add
an address to PicoPhone (the VOIP utility bundled with
PopNote)?
A>
First, I suggest you visit PicoPhone's
Web site for more comprehensive help. Meanwhile
enter the users "name <address>" in the top edit/address
box (less quotes) and click the "Call" button. The address can be either
a URL (domain or subdomain) or IP number. Don't forget to
enclose the address in chevrons as illustrated and put a
space between the name and the address. Also remember
that UDP port 11676 must be forwarded thru your firewall.
Q> When I
launched DNSUP.EXE (one of the PopToys) I got a message
"..file not found". Why?
A>
When DNS first runs it checks to see if its 3 CFG files
are present; BUT, if not, and you fill in the required
data fields, DNSUP will create them upon closing and
not complain the next time you launch it.
Q> The Auto IP
Updater does not work; and, the auto "Record" dialog
feature only records the incoming text, not my replies.
Plus it skips lines?
A> Ok,
those bugs have been fixed since build 2.0.17. Have
you upgraded lately?
Q> When I click
on one ot the hot links that appear when PopNote first
runs, nothing happens. Why?
A> Its
probably working ok. Here are some reasons why it may
appear nothing happens. First, you have PopNote in "On
Top" mode and covering your desktop. Try Minimizing
PopNote. Second, the web server supporting the Link in
question is down. Try later.
Q> I am having
problems. Should not PopNote run ok off of a DialUp ISP
account?
A>
Yes, but there are some caveats. You must wait until
after you are connected BEFORE running PopNote. Or, if
PopNote was already running, after connecting to your
Internet provider, go to PopNote's Network menu and
click on "Force IP Update".
Q> Im running
W95 and having problems. Are there any quick
fixes?
A>
First, you need to upgrade to WinSock 2 if you don't
already have it. Its free and on the Web. Second, you
need to obtain and place riched20.dll in your
windows\system32 folder. Its free and on the
Web.
Q> There are
many P2P message programs out there. Why should I or
anyone use PopNote?
A> I
suppose this is a valid question. Here is why "I"
created PopNote and why I use it. Specifically, I
designed PopNote to have a very tiny footprint and
operate un-noticed among many other client server
programs on my PC. In other words, PopNote uses little
to none of a systems resources. Next, you may
misunderstand the true meaning of Peer to Peer. Most
all other similar programs require a 3rd party server,
at a minimum to just establish the connection. If that
server goes down, you are out of luck! PopNote has no
dependency on any 3rd party contact servers. And
because PopNote is a true Peer to Peer system, using
UDP, it is as private as reasonably possible for data
traveling over the Internet. TCP requires a virtual
connection between the PC's that are communicating. UDP
does not.
Q> I cannot
find anyone to chat with on PopNote. What am I
overlooking here?
A> You
are overlooking the basic premiss of PopNote; "private"
peer to peer communications. There are now (by web log
hits), over 10,000 people worldwide who have downloaded
PopNote and the number is growing. In theory you could
communicate with any of them IF you knew their IP
address and when they are online. However, it is that
very privacy feature as well as direct contact over the
net that sets PopNote apart. Therefore PopNote is NOT
intended as a public chat medium; rather as a private
line between you and a select number of friends and or
family.
Q> I have been
a user of PopNote from Version 1.0 and am impressed at
how it has matured. Care to share any future
plans?
A> I
would if I had any. Most new features come on the fly
from my own needs and experiences which seem to mirror
that of most other users. I do listen to suggestions
and if they do not involve complete re-writes, I try to
incorporate them. My primary interest at this point is
rewriting existing feature code to make PopNote more
efficient and bug free.
Q> How can I
create a Shortcut?
A>
Here is the way I like to do it. Right click anywhere
on the Desktop. Choose New/Shortcut from the popup
menu. Browse to the folder where the program is
located and select it. Now name your shortcut. If the
program has an imbedded Icon, (and most do) that Icon
will appear on your Desktop as the programs
shortcut.
Q> I am fairly
familiar with general socket programming so how do you
get an IP address from a UDP packet?
A>
Good observation! You don't. As you say, there is no
standard stack call for extracting a UDP peer address
as you can with TCP datagrams. PopNote gets around
this by determining the user's WAN IP at runtime. Next,
PopNote encapsulates that IP into every data packet it
transmits. The remote PopNote then decodes (and filters
out) the IP from the received data packet, displaying
only the text portion. Clever, eh.
Q> Why are you
using UDP sockets? Isn't TCP better?
A>
Better is relative. Technically UDP is faster as it
incorporates less overhead such as the back and forth
signaling (the ACK and NAK's etc) to establish and
maintain the connection. The only downside to UDP,
sometimes jokingly called the Unreliable Data Protocol,
is the remote possibility of a lost packet. With the
emergence of VOIP (which uses UDP) and the subsequent
improvements in Internet infrastructure, the
probability of UDP packet delivery has improved
dramatically.
Q> The PopNote
executable is amazingly small in size for a program of
its caliber. How do you accomplish that?
A>
Thank the creator of HotBasic, a relatively new
compiler and linker that works similar to a mnemonic
assembler (MASM) but without the disadvantage of an
arcane language.
Q> There are a
hundred chat programs out there. Why create a new
one?
A>
Most of the others require 3rd party server and DNS
support and will stop working if those providers ever
shut down or decide to start charging. This also
implies a privacy concern if your traffic passes
through them. PopNote will only quit working when the
Sun finally burns out. And lastly, PopNote has features
that I think are both unusual and useful.
Q> How does
PopNote manage to avoid dependencies on baggage files
like DLL's or OCX's etc?
A>Actually it doesn't. Fortunately every
library file PopNote needs and uses is part of the
Windows NT operating system. For the programmer, its a
big time saver to take advantage of the Windows API or
Application Programming Interface. With this, why
re-invent wheels?
Q> Why did you
stop PopNote from being able to run multiple instances
of itself like most other W32 programs?
A>
Because it wasn't necessary. Because one copy is all
thats needed for running local loop tests. Because two
clients cannot run sockets on the same port.
Q> Do you
accept donations?
A>
arcmail@charter.net through PayPal :-) See my web
site.
Q> What is the
max file size I can open in PopNote's main chat
window?
A> The
only limit is what your RAM will allow.
Q> I hear a lot
about "buffer overflows" that allow hackers to gain
access to your Internet connected Computer. It is safe
to run PopNote continually?
A> In
my honest opinion, its safer than the operating system
itself. The following is quoted from the author who
created the compiler that created PopNote:
"Security Buffer overflows?
HotBasic will not allow them. Buffer size will just be
increased. And this applies to SOCKET data transfers as
well. Internet programs can be more secure with
HotBasic. Simply, you cannot write a statement in
HotBasic that could cause a buffer overflow and
associated security risks. Why? Data blocks are never
copied until the required space is verified and
allocated as necessary.
Q> I hear you
can protect executable files like PopNote from being
infected by viruses and worms by compressing them, is
this accurate?
A>
There is a popular EXE compressor known as UPX thats
rumored to do such but I wouldn't put much stock in it.
For my money, its best to keep malicious code from ever
gaining access to your computer.
Q> PopNote has
the look and feel of a lot of other Windows programs
that I have used. Why is that?
A> You
are now realizing one of the general benefits of the
Windows operating system. That is, the commonality of
features and operations between windows programs. Learn
one and you have a good foundation for dealing with any
other. Example: Block, Copy, Cut and Paste are
functions that generally apply to all Windows programs.
One reason for such similarity is the way Microsoft has
engineered Windows to allow 3rd party programmers to
tap into features that are built into their operating
system. This is known as the API or Application
Programmers Interface. This eliminates the programmer
from having to reinvent wheels. It also means that, as
an example, when you open a file browse window, it
looks the same for every program. Later Microsoft
introduced the COM or Component Object Model, (also
known as ActiveX) providing even more access to allow
interfacing with other "programs" running under
Windows. The precursor to COM was OLE or Object Linking
and Embedding; today, all that will eventually be
superseded by the latest, .NET framework. Confusing but
amusing :)
