FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
--------------------------------

PlaySMS version 0.8.1


Q: Why GPL?
A: So that any commercial SMS gateway forced tobe at least twice better than the GPL one, PlaySMS


A. LOGIN
--------
1.  How to login for the first time after installation?
    Answer:
    Please read INSTALL, INSTALLATION on Linux, PlaySMS Web Interface, step 11

2.  What should I do next after I logged in as Administrator?
    Answer:
    Change you default password, add new user, setup main configuration, 
    create group and add mobiles number

3.  What should I do for the first time as Normal user?
    Answer:
    Change your default password given by Administrator, create group and add 
    mobiles number


B. SEND SMS
-----------    
1.  Howto send single SMS from web?
    Answer:
    Use Send single SMS link, destination mobile listed on your group

2.  Howto send group SMS from web?
    Answer:
    Use Send broadcast SMS link, destination group defined previously

3.  Is there any delivery status reported?
    Answer:
    Yes! Follow Delivery report link, you will found status for every SMS
    Status "Failed" for failed attempt, "Pending" for queued SMS (on server),
    "Sent" for SMS sent (sent to gateway) and "Delivered" for SMS delivered to phone

4.  Can we delete delivery report?
    Answer:
    Yes, but its not really deleted, its just permanently hidden from delivery report page

5.  Can we retrieve deleted delivery report?
    Answer:
    No, not at the moment

6.  If we delete delivery report, is it affecting SMS transmission?
    Answer:
    No, as I said, delete means hidden from delivery report page

7.  How is my sent SMS looks like?
    Answer:
    If you set the Sender ID in your Personal data, than Sender ID will be added to 
    your SMS, this is useful when using gateway module with no ability to set sender's number
    Gateway module which can sets sender's number is Kannel using direct SMSC or Clickatell
    Sender's number taken from field mobile in your Personal data
    

C. RECEIVE SMS
--------------    
1.  Can I receive SMS?
    Answer:
    You can, your incoming SMS are stored on Inbox and forwarded to your email
    specified on Personal data

2.  What should sender do to send me private SMS (like on question no. 6)?
    Answer:
    Send SMS to your GSM Modem (or Nokia handset) with format:
    PV [your_username] [their message]
    eg: 
	PV anton your application works!
	pv anton i want to help you developing this application :)
	
3.  Can I forward SMS from my mobile phone to my group?
    Answer:
    When you create a group from web, you must fill Group Code. Use that Group
    Code as parameter to forward SMS to group. Send SMS to your GSM Modem 
    (or Nokia handset) with format:
    BC [group code] [your message]
    eg: 
	BC DEV thx for joining our crussade :p
	bc DEV dont forget to read function.php
    Note: your mobile phone number must be sets on your Personal data stated in
    international format

4.  Can I forward SMS from my mobile phone to group belongs to someone else?
    Answer:
    No, your SMS will be ignored


D. SMS BOARD
------------
1.  What is SMS code?
    Answer:
    Administrator can add new SMS code other than PV and BC which will be use
    to accept and deffer incoming SMS. Every code has their on webpage and can
    be forwarded to their own specified email.
    From version 0.4 this term will be replaced by new term, SMS board.

2.  If I add SMS code named INFO, howto access webpage for that code?
    Answer:
    Webpage for code INFO (thus we called SMS Board INFO) would be accessable
    trough this url: 
    http://your_playsms_web_domain/output.php?code=INFO
    Other parameter you can use:
    line	: show x line number of rows 
    bodybgcolor	: set body background color
    oddbgcolor	: set odd row backround color
    evenbgcolor	: set even row backround color
    refresh=yes	: check latest incoming sms and refresh webpage output
    eg:
    http://your_playsms_web_domain/output.php?code=INFO&line=15
    using refresh link:
    <a href="http://your_playsms_web_domain/output.php?code=INFO&line=15&refresh=yes">[ Refresh Board ]</a>
    
3.  Can I retrieve incoming SMS for that code INFO in XML format?
    Answer:
    Other than webpage, incoming SMS for that code INFO can be retrieve in RSS 0.8.11
    format trough this url:
    http://your_playsms_web_domain/output.php?code=INFO&type=xml
    Other parameter you can use:
    line	: show x line number of rows in xml file
    refresh=yes	: check latest incoming sms and refresh webpage output
    
4.  Howto put that webpage on my main website?
    Answer:
    Use IFRAME html tag. Customize your IFRAME to match your main website look and feel.
    eg:
	<IFRAME src="http://your_playsms_web_domain/output.php?code=INFO"></IFRAME>

5.  Can I use my own form on other website to send SMS from this SMS Gateway?
    Answer:
    Yes you can, more information how to use this feature can be read in ws.php
    Note: ws.php reads given query string. Since ws.php is currently intended for 
    developer only, this FAQ will not discuss any further about it. Please see ws.php

6.  Can I retrieve delivery status remotely so I can process it from other website?
    Answer:
    Yes you can, delivery status retrieved in CSV form, more information how to
    use this feature can be read in ws.php


E. SMS COMMAND
--------------    
1.  Can I command server todo something?
    Answer:
    You can. Use SMS command feature from administrator menu.

2.  Howto setup SMS command?
    Answer:
    Add new SMS command from administrator menu, and then setup executed command.
    PlaySMS passes variables to executed command. Command or shell script must be
    within directory $feat_command_path['bin'] (read config.php)
    Variables:
    ##SMSDATETIME## replaced by SMS incoming date/time
    ##SMSSENDER## replaced by sender mobile phones number
    ##COMMANDCODE## replaced by command CODE
    ##COMMANDPARAM## replaced by command parameter    

3.  Howto use defined SMS command?
    Answer:
    Send SMS to your GSM Modem (or Nokia handset) with format:
    [COMMAND CODE] [COMMAND PARAM]
    eg: 
	reg email anton@ngoprek.org
	retr pop3 pop3.ngoprek.org anton mypwd
	uptime

4.  Howto make information retrieval system?
    Answer:
    Use SMS command so the gateway get informations from databases, and then setup
    a script to use ws.php to send informations back to your sender.
    Read carefully ws.php
    Please have a look shell scripts on PlaySMS package directory contrib/script/

5.  Can I command server to shutdown/reboot?
    Answer:
    Not that simple :) but yes you can.
    You should understand that those command's im talking about above, is executed 
    as web servers user


F. SMS CUSTOM
-------------    
1.  What is SMS CUSTOM?
    Answer:
    Use this to process incoming SMS by passing it to other URL.
    [sender] --GSM network-- [PlaySMS] --internet-- [other host processing SMS]

2.  Howto setup SMS custom?
    Answer:
    Add new SMS custom from menu, and then set custom URL which handling SMS.
    PlaySMS passes variables to custom URL. 
    Variables:
    ##SMSDATETIME## replaced by SMS incoming date/time
    ##SMSSENDER## replaced by sender mobile phones number
    ##COMMANDCODE## replaced by custom code
    ##COMMANDPARAM## replaced by custom parameter

3.  Howto use defined SMS custom?
    Answer:
    Send SMS to your GSM Modem (or Nokia handset) with format:
    [CUSTOM CODE] [CUSTOM PARAM]
    eg: 
	reg email anton@ngoprek.org
	retr pop3 pop3.ngoprek.org anton mypwd
	pres aminrais

4.  Howto make information retrieval system with SMS custom?
    Answer:
    Use SMS custom so the server located in custom URL get informations from their database, 
    and using ws.php method send informations back to SMS sender.
    Read carefully ws.php


G. SMS POLL
-----------
1.  Howto use SMS poll system?
    Answer:
    Add new poll or list/edit/delete it. Write down Poll Code and each Choice Code 
    you defined. I hope you can figure it out the rest of the story
    by now.
    If you are voters, send SMS to PlaySMS SMS gateway mobile number with format:
    [POLL CODE] [CHOICE CODE]
    eg:
    food chicken
    pres 3

2.  Howto show results of SMS poll in other website?
    Answer:
    For example polling with code PRES
    Webpage for poll named PRES would be accessable trough this url: 
    http://your_playsms_web_domain/output.php?show=poll&code=PRES
    Other parameter you can use:
    bodybgcolor	: set body background color
    refresh=yes	: check latest incoming sms and refresh webpage output
    Use IFRAME html tag.
    eg:
	<IFRAME src="http://your_playsms_web_domain/output.php?show=poll&code=PRES"></IFRAME>


H. GATEWAY MODULE
-----------------    
1.  I've heard that from version 0.5 PlaySMS support any gateway other than gnokii.
    Is that true?
    Answer:
    Yes. From now on you can write gateway module and place it inside directory 
    on $apps_path[plug]/gateway. Take a look gnokii gateway module, im sure
    you'll understand howto make one for your gateway :)

2.  So if I dont have GSM modem or nokia 5110, say I have access to SMSC or
    Internet SMS Gateway like http://www.clickatell.com or http://www.simplewire.com,
    can I still use PlaySMS?
    Answer:
    Yes. Use gateway module kannel for connecting directly to providers SMSC
    or use gateway module clickatell and uplink for connecting to other sms gateway/server
    such as Clickatell or another PlaySMS SMS Gateway
    Please see $apps_path[plug]/gateway/clickatell/ and $apps_path[plug]/gateway/uplink/
        
3.  Is kannel (http://kannel.org) supported by PlaySMS?
    Answer:
    Yes, starting version 0.6
    Please see $apps_path[plug]/gateway/kannel/

4.  How can I configure each gateway module?
    Answer: 
    Starting from version 0.8 webbased control panel for gateway modules configurations
    is available, you must login as Administrator

5.  How can I setup which gateway module active?
    Answer:
    Login as Adminsitrator and activate any gateway you want by clicking "Activate" menu on each 
    gateway module configuration

6.  Can I build my own gateway module ?
    Answer:
    Yes, please have a look files in $apps_path[plug]/gateway/template/ 
    you can modify files in it to match your requirements
    If you write new gateway module, please send your work so i can have a look
    and put it on next releases
    

I. TELL ME ABOUT IT
-------------------        
1.  Should I tell you when I install PlaySMS on my site?
    Answer:
    Please do, send email to anton@ngoprek.org and/or to PlaySMS mailing list 
    at playsms-devel@yahoogroups.com
    
2.  If I have some wishes, what should I do, who should I inform?
    Answer:
    If its about PlaySMS, just throw it to the mailing list. If its about your life, 
    you have to stay on your path, be brave and never give up!
    
3.  If I found bugs and/or security holes, what should I do?
    Answer:
    Please send it (as clear as soon as possible) to the mailing list


J. CONTACT
----------    
1.  Where or how can I reach you?
    Answer:
    Send me email (anton@ngoprek.org) or contact me at my Yahoo ID: anton_rd

2.  When?
    Answer:
    Anytime you need to, if im available I'll be glad to answer all your question.

3.  Are there any place where I can discuss PlaySMS?
    Answer:
    Yes. PlaySMS mailing list. It is intended for users and developers.
    Please join the group by sending empty email to playsms-devel-subscribe@yahoogroups.com


