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VB (TCP/IP) Chat Program Multi User Send Files

What im trying to do is write a chat program for network use (tcp/ip)
where more than 2 people can chat at once
i would also like to be able to send files through Visual Basic Program to other users on the network that are currently in the chat program.
i dont know if this is possible or not but i dont want to have a server... i want any users on the network to open it and be able to see whos using it and start talking although if no users are detected it could set it self up as the server im not sure yet and wont really know until i get underway making it
thanks

p.s i will be away for a couple of days

Running: VB 6
O/S: XP

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

zzzzzooc

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Mike Tomlinson

If all of the parties involved are on a lan behind a firewall then it is possible to setup such a system without using a central server. You have to use the UDP protocol though, which essentially broadcasts the packets to everyone and no one in particular. UDP packets are not guaranteed to arrive in the order they were sent...or arrive at all for that matter! File transfer would be near impossible to bulletproof in a such a system.

If you want the system to work realiably and efficiently then you need to use the TCP protocol along with a dedicated server to connect to and relay messages as zzzzzooc as already mentioned.

Regards,

Idle_Mind

Y2Kingswood

ASKER

hehe yeah im aware that i probably need a server, but i guess that bit can happen later
the main thing is getting a program that multiple users can chat with, if it uses a server i dont mind for now. i just dont know how to make a server and have the clients log onto that machine and have more than one user log on to that server

Y2Kingswood

ASKER

by the way all the computers using this program will also have access to the internet so i dont really want somthing that would leave it open to the outside world

m1zz0

try this link:
http://207.68.162.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=7d1f459c05f068b0feeb412dc50d0ad8&lat=1082051104&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eplanet%2dsource%2dcode%2ecom%2fvb%2fdefault%2easp%3flngCId%3d53167%26lngWId%3d1

its has a good example

m1zz0

oops, i mean this one
http://www.planet-source-code.com/vb/default.asp?lngCId=53167&lngWId=1
Sorry

fadixp

alright its an WINSOCK issue .
you can make a program , which will give the user an option to host " Confrance Chat "
so he can be a server ;)
then to make a chat program do you know how to use Winsock ?
if not please post here so i can help you with that
hope this works ;)

fadixp

Y2Kingswood

ASKER

cool checking these out