These rules would be referred to as the Network Protocol.Īt the next level, the parties would need to interpret the packets/frames. There are at least a few layers of protocols.Īt the lowest level, the communicating parties would need to know how to break a continuous flow of bytes into packets/frames. These rules and order would be known as the communication protocols. However, for any meaningful communication, there must be some rules and order.

When a chat client is connected to a chat server, they would have established a common network stream to use. The network stream is duplex, and bytes transmitted and read are always in FIFO order. For a chat server and a chat client to communicate over the network, each would read and write to the network stream.

2.0 Streams and ProtocolsĪ stream is a continuous flow of bytes. In this article, I would like to share with the reader, the techniques I used to implement multilingual support and picture/media transfer in a chat program. Most chat programs are text based, and do not support multi languages. Download ChatNewVB_2b.zip (VB) - 314.4 KB.However the application can still be used through programs such as virtual machines if earlier versions of Windows are installed on them. Microsoft removed the application from Windows versions from Vista on, with the removal of NetDDE, though the program and the DDE service it needs may be manually installed. Windows Chat is real time text, with typing being transmitted immediately. Windows Chat utilizes a split screen user interface similar to UNIX talk. The shortcut to the executable is not present in the Start Menu in newer versions of Windows it must instead be run by using Start > Run. Users can chat with each other over an IPX LAN. It utilizes the NetBIOS session service and NetDDE. In later Windows versions, the Network DDE service may need to be enabled to receive calls. Windows Chat (not to be confused with Microsoft Comic Chat) is a simple LAN-based text chatting program included in Windows for Workgroups and, later, the Windows NT-line of operating systems, including Windows NT 3.x, NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

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