ShixxNOTE 6.net on Windows 7

I can say that ShixxNOTE 6.net is working on latest Microsoft operating system Windows 7 (all editions Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate). Soon I will put some screenshots so you will be able to see it.

Reason for this is that ShixxNOTE program is written in C++ program language using Visual Studio 6. And because of that it doesn’t require any framework or runtime. Program is using all functions from Microsoft original libraries (DLL’s) except one “dll” which is used for image handling but this “dll” is also written in C++ program language.

So my ShixxNOTE program is ready for all future operating systems released from Microsoft Corporation as the latest one Windows 7 which is really good operating system.

But there is one minor “problem”. When you start your computer ShixxNOTE is reading your network neighborhood, before on Windows Vista and all old Windows operating systems that last few seconds or maximum few minutes. On Windows 7 you can experience that you see small ShixxNOTE program dialog above the clock in the task bar, which says “Reading your network neighborhood. Wait for few seconds …”, for up to 5 minutes if you have more than 20 computers in your LAN. In a new version which will be soon released I have implemented fast network reading which will solve this little “problem” and program will read your network in a seconds on all old and future Windows operating systems.

ShixxNOTE program reading network (LAN)

Also if you have problems with sending or reading note(s) then you should manage Windows Firewall and add “ShixxNote.exe” program in exception program list. If you get dialog like picture bellow, click on button “Allow access” and check box like on the picture. This is picture from Windows Security and that could be reason why suddenly you can send or receive note. If you still experience some problems with firewall be sure that port 2000 is open for ShixxNOTE to run normally and that “ShixxNote.exe” file should be in list where are programs that are not blocked by firewall or some other security program.

ShixxNOTE Firewall Alert

Write me if you have any problem running ShixxNOTE on Windows 7 operating system if you read this article. I will always answer you promptly on any email with some question.

Kind regards,

Ozren Sirola

admin@shixxnote.com

ozren.sirola@ri.htnet.hr

ShixxNOTE Program Developer

http://www.shixxnote.com/

Backup your notes

 

If you didn’t know there is option in program for exporting all notes or just one note to a file on your disk. File extension is „*.shx“. In that file program save all info about note(s) like note text, font, color, size, etc.

For example maybe you have bought new computer and you want to import all note(s) from your old computer to this new one. This is very easy task. Just follow this steps.

Open program main menu (right mouse click on program tray icon) and select „Export note(s)“ option from menu. See picture below. 

 
After you select option „Export note(s)“ from ShixxNOTE main menu, you will get „Export note(s)“ dialog with all notes from your desktop or hidden notes. If you want to backup (export) all notes click on button „Check all“ it will check all notes in list. If you want you can uncheck (remove) note(s) you don’t want to backup. See picture below. 

 
When you are finished with checking note(s), click on „Export“ button. Then you will be prompted to write file name and to choose directory where to create ShixxNOTE program backup file („*.shx“ extension). In my case file name is „MyBackupNotes.shx“ located in „C:\Temp“ directory on my hard disc.

 

So now you have all your notes in just one file with all data in it. After that for example copy file „C:\Temp\MyBackupNotes.shx“ to USB memory stick and copy file in some folder on new computer with ShixxNOTE installed. Now on new computer open main program menu (right mouse click on tray icon) and select „Import note(s)“ item and browse to “MyBackupNotes.shx“ ; click on button „Import“ and you will get all your exported notes on your desktop.

So please use this options to backup your notes or to export it from one computer to another (both computers have ShixxNOTE installed).

Kind regards,

Ozren Sirola
ShixxNOTE Program Developer
http://www.shixxnote.com/

Sending note via NET SEND

ShixxNOTE 6.net can send note to other computer in your LAN which doesn’t have installed program, that receipient will receive simple message box with note text. Program is using NET SEND command and Messenger Service.

Here is example picture of what will recipient receive (which doesn’t have ShixxNOTE program installed) if you send him note (computer name or IP address) :

Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista has a special program – Messenger Service – that provides for receiving and sending winpopup-compatible messages. If this service is running, the system will receive messages. The received messages are immediately displayed as simple message boxes. To send messages, you can use any winpopup-compatible messenger and also ShixxNOTE 6.net

Windows XP operating systems have this service. Before SP2 service was started automatically, but after release of SP2 for Windows XP this service has been stopped by default. So when ShixxNOTE 6.net is sending (trying to send) note via NET SEND and recipient doesn’t have Messenger Service started he will not receive note text in simple message box. That is why you should have Messenger Service running for NET SEND to successfully send a message.

You can start or stop Messenger Service at any time. And you can also configure it in such a way that it would start automatically at the system startup. There is a special program for controlling all services in the system – Services.

See below the guide on how to launch Messenger Service and configure it to be launched automatically.

Windows XP Professional

1. Click Start->Settings ->Control Panel
2. Click Administrative Tools
3. Click Services
4. Double Click Services Scroll
5. Scroll down and highlight “Messenger”
6. Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties
7. Click the Start button
8. Select Automatic in the Startup Type scroll bar
9. Click OK

To receive messages in Windows 95/98/Me you can use Microsoft Winpopup to receive and send messages. The program is included in the standard distributive package, but you could have failed to install it when you were installing the system.

To install it or to make sure that it is installed:

Windows 95

1. Open Add/Remove Programs from Control Panel.
2. Select Windows Setup tab.
3. Select Accessories and click Details
4. Check Winpopup and click Ok
5. Click Ok

Windows 98

1. Open Add/Remove Programs from Control Panel.
2. Select Windows Setup tab.
3. Select System Tools and click Details
4. Check Winpopup and click Ok
5. Click Ok

In ShixxNOTE 6.net recipient list you can insert computer name or IP address of recipient who doesn’t have installed ShixxNOTE program. In this case program will use NET SEND command and will send note text to recipient via Messenger Service. Off course if recipient doesn’t have Messenger Service started he will not receive nothing and ShixxNOTE will inform sender that note was not delivered.

ShixxNOTE 6.net ready for Windows Vista

 Everybody is talking about Windows Vista and how will old programs work on new Microsoft Windows platform. So I decided to check if ShixxNOTE 6.net is ready for Windows Vista. I have installed Windows Vista Ultimate version on one new computer in my LAN. Everything was prepared for installation of ShixxNOTE 6.net latest release (December 2006).

After running setup file, I got security message if I trust publisher (simple click on yes). Then second question from Windows Firewall asking you to choose „Block“ or „Unblock“ ShixxNOTE program, you must click on „Unblock“ button because network functions, sending and receiving notes will not work properly if you click otherwise (read more about this topic in previous articles). And that was all, installation was completed and ShixxNOTE 6.net was ready for use.

ShixxNOTE Main Menu on Windows Vista

I must say that I was very excited with new look and style of all program dialogs and menus. Dialogs and menus really looks great on Vista. Here you can see some screenshots.

ShixxNOTE Dialog and menu on Windows Vista

Sending and receiving notes works without any problem. I have tested sending and receiving notes, between computer running ShixxNOTE 6.net on Windows XP and this new one running program on Windows Vista Ultimate and everything works perfect. Reading network neighborhood and all other network features works normal.

ShixxNOTE reading network LAN

ShixxNOTE Send To Others Dialog

So if you have bought Windows Vista you can freely install ShixxNOTE 6.net program on your computer. Program is 100% „Windows Vista ready“ and you can be sure it will work.

ShixxNOTE note main menu on Windows Vista

So at the end I must say that I am proud, because ShixxNOTE 6.net (developed in Visual C++ 6.0) works on every Windows operating system from Windows 95 to newest one Windows Vista. And you can send and receive note(s) without worrying which Windows operating system is installed on other computers in your LAN.

Ozren Sirola

admin@shixxnote.com

New Release December 2006

I have just released new program major release. ShixxNOTE 6.net (Released December 2006) Build 125. This new version is now available on program homepage site under Download section.

• Critical security bug is now fixed. Parsing network message is improved and now possible attacker can not cause buffer overflow. This bug was discovered by Luigi Auremma.
• Important bug fixed. All received notes will be visible after computer or program restart. Problem with disappearance of received notes is now fixed. In previous version, received notes sometimes were lost after program restart. Now in this new release you will always see all your received notes and no more lost notes.

Luigi Auremma discoverer of security bug was informed and he changed his ShixxNOTE program change log file with new update that bug is fixed and that new release is now available on his site. Check now ShixxNOTE program info on his official security site.

UPDATE 27 Dec 2006: The author has released a patched version (build 125)

Also I have to inform you that ShixxNOTE 6.net is ready for Windows Vista, check program homepage under section What’s New or Awards to see more.

Ozren Sirola
ShixxNOTE Program Developer
http://www.shixxnote.com

Set Alarm to note(s)

In note menu (right mouse click on note) you have option “Set Alarm”.When you click on that menu item you will get dialog where you can choose alarm settings.

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–
As you can see from picture above. For this note I set alarm with sound at 14:50 which will be repeated every month on day selected in “Date” text box. If you have more than one note, you can set different alarm settings on each one. After you set and apply alarm settings to note, small alarm icon will appear in note title on left side.

When note alarm you, it will play a sound and will popup in front of all other windows you have on your screen, so you will hear it and see it for sure. Also small alarm icon in title will change color to red.

In note menu you have also “Set Expiration” option. With this you can set when note will expire. When note expire it will be deleted. Dialog settings are similiar with alarm settings.

Regards to all,

Ozren Sirola
ShixxNOTE program developer

Windows Firewall and ShixxNOTE

If you have Windows Firewall activated on your computer and it is “On”, after ShixxNOTE program first start you will probably get Windows Security Alert dialog. If you have Windows 7 installed then you will get dialog (first picture above) asking you to allow access to ShixxNOTE program ; if you have Windows XP then dialog (second picture) will appear asking you to unblock program (check the picture above). This is normal because ShixxNOTE is multi-thread client/server application (LAN messenger). You can send note and receive notes to others in your LAN. For sending and receiving notes ShixxNOTE program communication port must be open. So if you get this dialog you have to click on Unblock or Allow access button to enable sending and receiving note(s) feature. After you click Allow access (Windows Vista/7) or Unblock (Windows XP) ShixxNOTE program will be added in Windows Firewall – Exceptions dialog and will work properly in your network.

If you have Windows 7 installed then you can open Windows Firewall with Advanced Security dialog and if you allowed access to program you will get dialog like picture bellow.

Windows 7 Firewall Advanced Settings

If you click Cancel or Keep Blocking button then you will not be able to receive notes from others. Because Windows Firewall will block incoming note data for ShixxNOTE program.

Also you can always open ShixxNOTE communication port “2000” manually in “Local area connections” – “Advanced tab”. If you don’t know how write me and I will help you.If you have any problems with sending or receiving notes in program, check your firewall settings first. If you didn’t fix the problem ask your network administrator to help you.

And finally write me if you have any problem regarding sending and receiving notes, or any other problems with program.

Ozren Sirola

ShixxNOTE Program Developer
admin@shixxnote.com

 

Save your own note theme

If you click (right mouse) on note you will get note menu with many options. One of them is “Theme” which contains submenus with few default themes. And when you click on i.e. “Green”, selected theme will be applied on note. Maybe you didn’t know but you can create and save your own theme under some name and then in Theme submenu you will get new created theme listed. This is the way you can create your favourite theme(s) with other colors for note and for note title. Here in this picture you can see that I have more that 6 custom themes which I like and use. “Blue Invert Cool” is my favourite. You just need to change colors and go to “Theme -> Save Theme as …” option, you will be asked for a name for your custom theme and that is all. Your new custom theme will appear under Theme submenu always.

In program there is plenty of options you can use to customize your notes. So investigate program options and you will see how many cool stuff can be done with notes.

Regards to all,

Ozren Sirola
ShixxNOTE 6.net
www.shixxnote.com

Network neighborhood in ShixxNOTE

In this article I will tray to explain how ShixxNOTE 6.net program works in your network neighborhood. Maybe you didn’t notice but on program start, small dialog appears above the task bar. In that moment program is reading your network neighborhood. Dialog disappear after second or less (if you are in big company with more than 100 computers then reading of your network neighborhood may be longer than second).

After that all computers in your network neighborhood will be written in ShixxNOTE data file (NETBIOS name of computers) as a list. One thing, your computer name will be excluded from that list, but you can send note to yourself if you want (write your computer name in text box). Network neighborhood list is useful because when you send note to other(s) and you are in “Send To Dialog”, program will read that list (computer names) from data file and will show it under “Network Neighborhood” list.

 

Then you can select computer(s) which program found and add it to recipients list (“Note recipients”). Other sticky notes programs with sending note feature doesn’t have that. If you are in “Send To Dialog” you can always click on button “Refresh”, which task is to read your network neighborhood again, save the list in data file and refresh dialog “Network Neighborhood” list. For example if you start ShixxNOTE but in that moment other computers are not online or they are shutdown, program will show you list from data file (list may be old), then you can click “Refresh” button to retrieve new situation in your network neighborhood.

Also if you check picture above you can click (right mouse button) on computer and you will get small menu, one option is “Add”, another is “Show IP Address”. So you can find out easily IP address of other computer(s) in your network neighborhood. As you know, you can add to “Note recipients” list computer name, IP address or email address and program will deliver note to all recipients (how it will be delivered check on ShixxNOTE program homepage).

In main program “Settings Dialog” (right mouse click on program tray icon) on tab “Network Settings” there is option “Read network neighborhood on program start” which is by default set to “Yes”, if you don’t want program to read your network neighborhood on program start, because for example you have more than 200 computers in network and reading lasts more than 10 seconds, select “No”. Then later you can always click on “Refresh” button in “Send To Dialog”. Also there is option “Refresh network neighborhood interval period” which is by default set to “0” min. If you set period to i.e. “30” minutes, program will read your network neighborhood every 30 minutes and will save computer names (as a list) in ShixxNOTE data file after reading.

There are many other network features in program which can be set different than default. So check main program “Settings dialog” tab “Network Settings” and see what other things can be changed in settings to fit your needs.

To get settings dialog you must click (right mouse click) on ShixxNOTE tray icon and select “Settings” item in main program menu. As you can see on picture above.

In next article I will write more about exporting and importing notes, sending and receiving note via email. Please write me or comment my posts if you have questions or suggestions regarding program.

Security and Firewall

ShixxNOTE 6.net is multi thread client (you can create note, write text and send note to others) and server (one program thread is always listening and waiting on default program port 2000 for incoming note) application. If you have program installed and you can send and receive note(s) normally then everything is OK, but if you have problems with communication, then check your firewall settings. Firewall programs like Zone Alarm or Windows Firewall will block all traffic for programs which are not in list.

For example if you install ShixxNOTE 6.net and you have Zone Alarm installed also, you will get message “ShixxNOTE is trying to act as server 127.0.0.0 will you allow it ?”. This is normal, because ShixxNOTE is really server, so if you want to receive note(s) from others you must allow ShixxNOTE to act like server.

If you have Windows Firewall on, and you are having problems with sending or receiving note(s), you must open TCP port 2000 and name it for example “ShixxNOTE Port”. If you block that port ShixxNOTE will not work properly, sending and receiving of note(s) will be blocked. If you ever get this dialog bellow you must click button Unblock, then ShixxNOTE program will work properly and you don’t need to open port manually.

If you don’t know how to change network settings ask your network administrator for help. If some other application is using port 2000 you can change ShixxNOTE port on “Network Settings” dialog (right mouse click on ShixxNOTE tray icon located in your task bar and select “Settings” option).

In “Network Settings” dialog change port to some other if you need. But then all other computers in your LAN or Intranet which have program installed must do the same (change port to new one) to receive note(s).

If you have any problem or question regarding this article please write me on mail admin@shixxnote.com

Kind regards

Ozren Sirola
ShixxNOTE Program Developer
admin@shixxnote.com