October 30, 2013

Tips & Tricks: How to prevent users from uninstallation of IM clients?

Sometimes security policies of a company require to prevent users rights to uninstall instant messenger software from their local PC. Our software already offers an option that prevents users from existing the IM client application. That can be done via "RestrictExitProgram=1" setting in the Setup.ini configuration file and Setup.ini Configuration Tool. Both of them are available for download at www.bopup.com But there is no option to disable uninstallation of the application from Programs and Features panel (Add/Remove Programs (ARP) in earlier Windows versions). But that's possible too.

Since setup packages of Bopup IM client software are provided in MSI files then it is possible to use command line options for msiexec launcher by putting standard Windows Installer properties. In order to disable Remove option in the Control Panel "ARPNOREMOVE=1" (in upper case) must be used. Thus the command line that launches the setup package and installs it with no disabled remove option in ARP should be the following:

msiexec /i bopupmes.msi ARPNOREMOVE=1

Bopup Observer client observer.msi package name must be specified instead of bopupmes.msi

There are so many options, and it is even possible to set IM server name by putting "IMSERVER=" property (in upper-case letters) to set a name/address of Bopup Communication Server. 

Yes, there is a little problem to use the command line options if the IM client applications are deployed/upgraded via Active Directory Group Policies (GPO). So we plan to add a new option to the setup.ini configuration file to support uninstallation through it.

October 23, 2013

New versions of the IM clients added minor but useful updates

We released new updates for Bopup Messenger and Bopup Observer clients which add a few useful changes and improvements. See below the additions and fixes in the lastest versions of the IM clients.

Added option to send idle away message as automated response to incoming personal messages

The messenger client added a useful option that allows to automatically send responses to incoming personal messages. This is possible if idle away check box is enabled because automated replies can include only current idle away message.


Fixed error with displaying single quote sign (') in the conversation that became a double quote sign

Both clients, the messenger and observer, fix annoying issue with displaying a single quote sign (') in a text of messages in conversations. This sign became shown as a double quote (") which brought problems an important data has been sent. That was not a server or data transmission problem because the client modified the text itself in order to properly save it into message archive stored locally on a user's computer.

Fixed issue when outgoing message was not shown in the conversation

We also found and fixed another weird problem in the messenger client when outgoing instant message has not been shown immediately in the conversation chat. Get the new version to solve that issue.

Improved Message History module

New updates of the IM clients are shipped with improved message history viewer. It fixes problems with selection and display of a huge number of messages and file transfers for a future review, saving to a file or printing.

Download Bopup Messenger version 6.3.2 and Bopup Observer 5.3.2

October 8, 2013

"User is typing message..." event is now supported!

We glad to inform our customers that new versions of Bopup IM suite are now available for download. Both the come with major versions because we did a lot of work, added useful improvements and fixed many issues. See what is new below.

User typing event
Firstly we need to say about very useful function. Maybe it is known from public messenger when users can see in their conversations that another one is currently typing a message or reply. Year, this adds interactivity interactivity and improves usability. When we see that the reply is being typed we do not close chat window immediately. And now our software provides that support too!

Download and update both the server and client parts in order to be able to use this function. The "User is typing message..." event appears every time in a conversation dialog of Bopup Messenger client. Delivery of this instant notification event is controlled on Bopup Communication Server and you can disable it from the Options dialog box by switching to Messaging tab.

Displaying a huge amount of messages on the server history
Management Console of the communication server fixes issues with showing a great number of messages and file transfers selected from a Message History. That issue also related to displaying some profile pages for account, group and/or news messages. Now data is displayed quickly and with no error even you select thousands records.

Fixed installation of the IM server with built-in SQL Server
Another important issue was installation of Bopup Communication Server with it's built-in database server on latest versions of Windows. Sometimes the setup fails to complete because no connection to the SQL Server could be established. That was a security problem because Windows requires a stronger password for built-in 'sa' account for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express that shipped with the IM server package. We did that.

Forget about duplicate versions of the messenger software in Add/Remove Programs panel 
Our customers that distribute and deploy new updates of the IM client using the communication server faced with the problem that previous version of the software might not be properly removed from Add/Remove Programs if the update was initiated under non-administrator user account in Windows. That was too old problem that we know about. Now the messenger software removes it's previous version during an upgrade with keeping all settings and message history.


Adding File Transfers to a messenger local history
Both Bopup Messenger and Bopup Observer clients fix error with adding and saving received and sent transfers to Message History. Now al file transfers are properly archived for a future review.


Download Bopup Communication Server version 4.2, Bopup Messenger 6.3 and Bopup Observer 5.3