Is there a way to open a chat window with lookout?

[23r23]

I know there is a windows-chat embeded in Windows but our IT department has it blocked in all the machines. So I created, using a run object, a wordpad window to chat remotelly with the operator of the system using VNC4.0. Problem is that as soon as a new lookout screen is open, wordpad goes behind lookout. This VNC does not have chat windows.

I have secured lookout with passwords, the operator can not get inside the computer when lookout is open. No menu bar, no task bar. Lookout shutdwon the computer by a button on screen connected to a run object. When computer boots up, lookout opens automatically becasue its icon is in the start up file. This way of blocking the access to inside the PC works great but once wordpad windows goes back, I don't see a way to make it visible again without breaking the security of Lookout.

It will be really handy to have sort of chat window that lookout can open and close by itself, without asking for the blessing of the IT department.

Any ideas?

Note: I tried also the web  server ponting to a wordpad file previously saved in some place. The inconcvenience of this is that the Web object cannot be moved around to uncover buttons of lookout screens. It doen't work 100% fine either as a chat windows.

Again: Any ideas?

[Mike@DTSI]

Use the Text Entry object.  or use the activex controls.

Good luck

Mike

[23r23]

No, it doesn't work the way I want. I want to open a chat window, or something like that.

Any other suggestion?

Thanks in advance.

[Mike@DTSI]

Create Comments:

Create an Access database.  Table: Notepad Fields: Username (Text), ComputerName(Text),TimeStamp(DateTime),Comment(Memo)

Create TextObject called ChatComment. 

Create PushButton called MakeComment.

Create and SQLExec object. Connect to the database.

SQL Query  "INSERT INTO Notepad (Username,ComputerName,TimeStamp,ChatComment) VALUE "'" & $system.Username & "', '" & $system.Computername & "'," & now() & ", '" & ChatComment & "')"

(This SQL query is just PSEUDO CODE, it is not complete!)

Connect SQLExec.Execute=MakeComment (pushbutton).

 Read Comments (Most Recent 15):

Create DataTable object, set as ODBC and connect to database.

SQL Query: "SELECT TOP 15 * FROM Notepad ORDER BY DateTime ASC"

Set a timer object or pushbutton to DataTable.ExecuteSQL

The datatable should have fields like A (Username), B (Computername), C(TimeStamp), D (ChatComment)

Make your displays.

This is all pseudo-code type. But that will get you close to what you want.

Mike

[23r23]

Never mind.

Using the Web explorer pointing to a document created in blank and saved in the computer, we made it work. It is not the perfect chat windows, It works well and does not allow the user to get thought the document inside the PC.

This chat using notepad, worpad, or word has became in the every day way to interact with operators all over this country. It has saved a lot to time and efforts when trouble-shooting the systems or the machine that the system controls.

It is a good recommendation to all support enginners to use these 'chat windows'.

Thanks anyway.

[Turd]

i like crabtree's idea plus hotkey that pops a window.  all it needs is some emotes!

[Mike@DTSI]

We used the notepad "messenger" for older systems.  The quick method i posted is actually how we do it now.

Mike