Ameridum Chat 2.3.0
===================

Release date for version 2.3.0 : May 18th, 2006 
(c) 2006 Ameridum Software. All Rights Reserved.
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INSTALLATION
============ 

1. Prerequisites:
    - Windows 2000server, Windows 2003 server, Windows XP or any other version 
         running   Internet Information Services 5.1 or greater,
    - .NET Framework 2.0 or greater.
 
2. If you have access to the server:
    - create a new directory on the server 
    - unzip amChat.zip to the directory just created
    - open IIS, right click the web site where you plan to deploy the
      chat(usually Default Web Site, if you dont have a custom web site), 
      and create a new Virtual Directory.
    - Set Alias to "chat", and browse for the directory just created; You can
      name the virtual directory different, then on the setup page you have to 
      enter the custom virtual directory name.     
    - right click on the virtual directory just created, click ASP.NET tab,
      and set ASP.NET version to 2.0.xxx (the latest you have)
    - check if an Application was created. If not, on the Application Settings panel  
      click Create, set Execution Permissions to Scripts Only, and Application Protection
      to Medium. 
    
    - close IIS, and open Windows Explorer: navigate to "amData" folder, right click, then
      Properties, Security, add the IUSR_<yourcomputerName> user under Groups and UserNames
      (if is not already there), click the IUSR_<yourcomputerName> user and set "Write"
      permissions on the folder for this user. 
      
      It is essential to grant write permissions on this folder(amData) 
      for the account used for Anonymous access. 
      Also when you set Anounymous access, be sure that
      Integrated Windows Authentication is checked.
 
3. If you dont have server access,
   and your chat will be hosted by a third party:
   - be sure your provider has .Net Framework 2.0 working on the server where you upload the
     chat software.
   - create a new directory amChat and set .NET Framework 2.0 active for this application
   - unzip amChat.zip and upload the content to the new directory
   - on the amChat web directory  grant Read ,Web, and Root permissions
     (amChat directory should be the root for the asp.net application 
   - create the following subdirectories:
        amChat/amData  no permissions on this one
        amChat/amData/msg ,grant Read, Web and Write permissions 
        amChat/amData/seed , grant Read and Write permissions

4. Go to http://www.ameridum.com/licensing/indexLicense.aspx   
   and request a temporary license.
   The chat is comming with a default license for http://127.0.0.1
   (localhost),usable on the test environment. For WWW installations a
   temporary (or permanent) license is mandatory. 
   
   Temporary licenses are issued for free. Only your email address is required.
   A temporary license is good for 60 days. 
   We ask only for your email address, and the domain name where you want to
   install the chat.
   If you like the chat, a permanent license will be issued for you by
   Ameridum. If not, you have to remove the Chat from internet or intranet.
   (a chat based on a temp license will stop working after 60 days)
   
5. Open a browser; Navigate to http://yourdomain/<chatVirtualDirName>/admin 
     (save the link; this is the admin site for your chat)
   - if this is your first chat site access, accept the user agreement
   - on the setup page fill all required fields; some fields, like font color or timeout
     limits could remain unchanged, if you are ok with the default values.  
   - Site Name is your domain name. If you want to test the site first, don't change 
     the value; it will be the localhost IP 
   - Virtual Dir Name is the name of the IIS virtual directory created for the chat 
   - License Key paste here what you received from Ameridum site, or don't change it
     if you run the chat on localhost.
   - Admin Username and Admin password (make note of defailt values; if you don't remember they are
     on config.config file);change the default username and password(this is mandatory,
     otherwise any chat admin who knows the default values could access your chat Administration page)
   - Choose between Login Required and Login Not Required. If login is not required, the
     user just provide a nickname for login.
   - Choose between "Is Mini" and "It Is Not Mini"  ; See how mini chat looks like on the Ameridum site. 
   - Choose between "Has Banner" and "No Banner"  ; If "Has Banner" is selected, the chat is comming with 
     a banner and a footer template; you have to customize 2 html files named banner.htm and footer.htm
     adding your specific information. Chat with "No Banner" comes with no banner or footer; you can include
     the chat on any web page using the frames or iframe tag (see below for details).
   - Only if you want different values change the remaining fields.
   - Click Update Configuration.
   - Click Manage Rooms. You must create at least one room for the chat to be functional.
     (don't try to click Go Chat if you dont have at least one room created).
   - When done click Exit, and return to the Configuration page.
  
   - Click Go Chat, and your chat should be ready to go.
    Next time, if you want to access the configuration page again, use 
    the url for your admin site (http://yourdomain/<chatVirtualDirName>/admin ) with your
    admin id and password.If you dont remember the id and/or the password, those values are on 
    seed/config.config file, and could be changed manually there.

ADDING THE CHAT ON YOUR SITE
============================

    1. If you have the "No Banner" option selected,
    you can include the chat page on any web page.
       In this case you have to create an iframe,
    having src="http://yourdomain/<chatVirtualDirName>/" 
    (the chat with no banner and footer)
    The iframe code looks like this:
    <iframe width="680px" height = "380px"
         src="http://yourdomain/<chatVirtualDirName>/"
         frameBorder="no" scrolling="no">
    </iframe>
     
    2. If you want the chat to be a separate application you need to edit 
    banner.htm and footer.htm files adding your html code there.
    The link to the chat will be  http://yourdomain/<chatVirtualDirName>/

    3. If you want a mini chat, choose the mini chat value on the admin page.
       The mini chat comes with  No Banner, and it is designed to be included on
       an existing web site(follow "No Banner" instructions).  

    4. If you want different colors or different size for chat objects, all the
    information is on .css files located on amPics/css directory
    

For any techinical issues regarding the installation process please
use the "Forum" located on http://www.Ameridum.com site;

   

