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Hopper is a Messenger Plus! plugin designed by Mnjul. It has several commands of Messenger's notifications, aka toasts. Now navigate the readme file from the list on the left!

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Quick Start

    Run /xhop now to give your contacts a toast!
    Run /xhopto Your message to create a toast with your own message to notify your contacts!
    Run /xhopcc to launch Hopper Control Center, and see what else you can do with Hopper!

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Links

• The latest version of Hopper is:
  (To reload this version tag without using cache, you need to press Ctrl+F5.)
• The official thread of Hopper
• The thread of Hopper³
• Messenger Plus!
• Messenger Plus! Forums
• MSN Messenger
• Windows Messenger

Introduction

Hopper (codenamed HopperSi in this version) is a plug-in for Messenger Plus!. Its /xhop command series are as easy to use as /hop in mIRC and provide extended feature for Plus!. Hopper makes Messenger appear offline and then go online, or block and unblock a contact in a row. It is used to catch contacts' attention. Please do not flood :) (or your contacts may block you!).

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Features

• Full integration with Messenger Plus!, the best and the most popular Messenger add-on.

• Flood protection.

• Ability to appear different status (including Plus! Personalised Status) after appearing offline and going online.

• Ability to operate up to five times once.

• Ability to hop "on" only certain contacts by blocking/unblocking them.

• Ability to replace nickanames with custom toast messages.

• Ability to dealy a certain period of time between appearing offline/going online or blocking/unblocking people.

• Full Unicode support, command line and Hopper Control Center.

• Hopper Control Center (HCC) lets users be able to run commands more WYSIWYG - lots can be done through a couple of mouse clicks.

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Compatibility

HopperSi requires Messenger Plus! 3.25.106 or above in order to operate correctly.

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Thanks

Thanks the following testers: Jeronimo, Ke11ett, KnightieBoy, KoalaBlue, Lareamond, Mippo, Ranicx, Redrider2k2, Segosa, Surfichris

Thanks the following contributors: Choli, Huuf, Segosa

Parse-color code made by Choli (Carlos Domingo Más)

Special thanks to Patchou, not only for his creating Messenger Plus!, but also for his help with Plugin interface ;)

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Licence

You can redistribute the plug-in package freely, but you are not allowed to de-compile or de-assemble any file.

Installation/Uninstallation/Upgrade

Whether you want to Install Hopper, Uninstall Hopper or Upgrade from an old version of Hopper (equal to/older than 2.20.153), please just run Installer.exe in the zip package you downloaded. The installer does anything, such as extracting all the files needed, copying files to Plus! plug-in directory, or transferring registry settings.

The operations are completely automatic, and actually, you just have to click your mouse several times and everything is done!

/xhop command series

/xhop commands make Messenger appear offline and go online in a row. They create notifications for all people that have added you into their contact lists. You are allowed to use /xhop and /xhopto only once in every five minutes. I.e., if you run /xhop 3, in the next five minutes you can't run any of the /xhop commands nor /xhopto, /xhopdl commands.

Note that whenever you run one of the /xhop command series, you will lose all of your special actions with your contacts, such as file transfer, launch site games, voice/video conversation...etc. You will also quit any conversations that have multiple participants.

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Using /xhop

/xhop creates simple toasts, which have your nickname inside. You can run /xhop help in a conversation windows to get basic information.

Arguments:

Command	Does...
/xhop	Simply makes Messenger appear offline and then go online.
/xhop number	Makes Messenger appear offline and then go online number times. Number has a maximum limitation of 5.
/xhop busy	Makes Messenger appear offline and then appear Busy.
/xhop brb	Makes Messenger appear offline and then appear Be Right Back.
/xhop away	Makes Messenger appear offline and then appear Away
/xhop onphone	Makes Messenger appear offline and then appear On The Phone.
/xhop lunch	Makes Messenger appear offline and then appear Out To Lunch.
/xhop persostat	Makes Messenger appear offline and then pops up Personalised Status Window.
/xhop persostat n	Makes Messenger appear offline and then changes status to Predefined Personalised Status n.

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Using /xhopto

/xhopto creates toasts, which have your custom messages. You can run /xhopto help in a conversation windows to get basic information.

This command is not compatible with Windows Messenger 5.

Arguments:
(Note if no custom messages are specified, /xhopto simply runs /xhop)

Command	Does...
/xhopto Your message /xhopto1 Your message	Changes your nickname to Your message, hops with /xhop once, and changes your nickname back.
/xhopto2 Your message	Changes your nickname to Your message, hops with /xhop twice, and changes your nickname back.
/xhopto3 Your message	Changes your nickname to Your message, hops with /xhop three times, and changes your nickname back.
/xhopto4 Your message	Changes your nickname to Your message, hops with /xhop four times, and changes your nickname back.
/xhopto5 Your message	Changes your nickname to Your message, hops with /xhop five times, and changes your nickname back.

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Using /xhopdl

/xhopdl creates simple toasts, but lets you to specify a delay between appearing offline and going online. You can run /xhopdl help in a conversation windows to get basic information.

Arguments:
(Note if no delay time is specified, /xhopdl simply runs /xhop)

Command	Does...
/xhopdl [seconds]	Makes Messenger appear offline, and go online after [seconds].

/xhopon command series

/xhopon commands block and unblock specified contact(s) in a row. They create notifications for the contact(s). You are allowed to use /xhopon and /xhoponto only once in every three minutes. I.e., if you run /xhopon, in the next three minutes you can't run any of the /xhopon commands nor /xhoponto, /xhopondl commands.

Note that whenever you run one of the /xhopon command series, you will lose all of your special actions with your contact, such as file transfer, launch site games, voice/video conversation...etc.

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Using /xhopon

When you run /xhopon in a conversation windows, it blocks and unblocks all the other people participating in the conversation. Hence, it creates a toast, which has your name inside, for the contacts. You can run /xhopon help in a conversation windows to get basic information.

Arguments:

Command	Does...
/xhopon	Simply makes Messenger block the people you are talking to and then unblock them.
/xhopon number	Makes Messenger block and unblock the people you are talking to, number times. Number has a maximum limitation of 5.

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Using /xhoponto

/xhoponto creates toasts, which have your custom message inside, for all the other people participateing in the coversation with the following steps: Changes your nickname -> Blocks people -> Unblocks people -> Changes your nickname back. You can run /xhoponto help in a conversation windows to get basic information.

This command is not compatible with Windows Messenger 5.

Arguments:
(Note if no custom messages are specified, /xhoponto simply runs /xhopon)

Command	Does...
/xhoponto Your message	Changes your nickname to Your message, hops "on" the contacts with /xhopon once, and changes your nickname back.
/xhoponto2 Your message	Changes your nickname to Your message, hops 'on' the contacts with /xhopon twice, and changes your nickname back.
/xhoponto3 Your message	Changes your nickname to Your message, hops 'on' the contacts with /xhopon three times, and changes your nickname back.
/xhoponto4 Your message	Changes your nickname to Your message, hops 'on' the contacts with /xhopon four times, and changes your nickname back.
/xhoponto5 Your message	Changes your nickname to Your message, hops 'on' the contacts with /xhopon five times, and changes your nickname back.

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Using /xhopondl

/xhopondl blocks all the other people participating in the conversation, and unblocks them after the specified delay time. You can run /xhopondl help in a conversation windows to get basic information.

Important: If contact X has been blocked by /xhopondl in Conversation A and expected to be unblocked after 10 seconds, but during the 10 seconds a /xhopon is run in Conversation B where contact X participates in too, contact X is unblocked right after /xhopon takes effect.

Arguments:
(Note if no delay time is specified, /xhopondl simply runs /xhopon)

Command	Does...
/xhopondl [seconds]	Makes Messenger block the people you are talking to, and unblock them after [seconds].

/xhopsend command

/xhopsend command sends a Messenger Plus! toast to your contacts. If you can't change your name, or don't want to lose special actions with your contact, such as file transfer, launch site games, voice/video conversation...etc, you can use /xhopsend to catch your contact's attention.

Note that in order to receive toasts made with Plus!, your contacts must have Messenger Plus! 2.50.66 and Hopper 2.0.80 or above. Your contact also has to turn on Plus! notification option in Preferences.

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Using /xhoponsend

When you run /xhopsend in a conversation windows, it creates a Messenger Plus! toast for your contacts, or does some other operations related to /xhopsend (see the table below). You can run /xhopsend help in a conversation windows to get basic information.

Arguments:

Command	Does...
/xhopsend Your message	Send a Messenger Plus! toast to the people you are talking to. Your message is shown in the toast and the conversation window.
/xhopsend hpr_verreq	Send a Hopper Version Request to the person you are talking to in order to make sure that he or she is able to receive toasts sent with Hopper. You can send a request to only one contact at the same time.
/xhopsend hpr_info	View the list of the (saved) version request results for the people you are talking to.
/xhopsend hpr_block [on | off]	Block/Unblock the /xhopsend toasts sent with Hopper from the contact(s) you are talking to.
/xhopsend hpr_blockall [on | off]	Block/Unblock all the /xhopsend toasts sent with Hopper from other people.
/xhopsend hpr_blockverreq [on | off]	Block/Unblock Hopper from replying to Version Request.
/xhopsend hpr_showwhenbusy [on | off]	Display Hopper /xhopsend toasts even your status is Busy. This option is used when you have the option "Display notifications even when my status is Busy" but still want to see Hopper Toasts.

/xhopcc command

/xhopcc command launches Hopper Control Center (HCC). You can do many things with Hopper Control Center, such as All of (even more than) hopper operations, Updating Hopper, Getting help.

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Using /xhopcc command

Arguments:

Command	Does...
/xhopcc	Lanuch Hopper Control Center (HCC), and show Operation dialog box.
/xhopcc options	Launch HCC's Options/Update dialog box.
/xhopcc help	Launch HCC's In-Program Help dialog box.
/xhopcc about	Launch HCC's About dialog box.

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HCC - Operations

Make up the operation you want Hopper to perform here! Select any option, click OK, and see what will happen :). Note if some of the controls are shown gray (disabled), it means the operations can not be combined. Flood protection is still in effect in HCC. Below is an operation-exclusivity table:

Operations		Universal Hop	Hop on Contact(s)
Normal hop	One-time hop	V	V
	Hop two or more times	V (Max: 5)	V (Max: 5)
	Hop and change status	V (*1)	X
Hop with text	One-time hop	V	V
	Hop two or more times	V (Max: 5)	V (Max: 5)
	Hop and change status	O	X
Delayed hop	One-time hop	V	V
	Hop two or more times	X	X
	Hop and change status	O (*2)	X

(Remarks: V: Works very well X: Exclusive (you can't use the combination at the same time) O: Command only accessible through HCC and may not work 100% perfectly (*1): Normal universal hop two or more times and change status is accessible only through HCC. (*2): Delayed universal hop: only native Messenger statuses are supported.)

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HCC - Options/Update

This dialog box is also accessible through Plus! Plug-in Configuration command.

Options field:

• Block all toasts sent by Hopper from other contacts:
  This option is equivalent to /xhopsend hpr_blockall [on | off] command.
• Display Hopper toasts even if my status is Busy:
  This option is equivalent to /xhopsend hpr_showwhenbusy [on | off] command.
• Block Hopper from replying to Hopper Version Request:
  This option is equivalent to /xhopsend hpr_blockverreq [on | off] command.

Update field:

You can check if there are newer Hopper versions here. Just click Check for Hopper update and you will be notified if there is any update, along with release notes. You can also download the latest Hopper package.

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HCC - Help

HCC loads an HTML help page. You can get then brief help with all the commands Hopper provides.

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HCC - About

Verion, credit, blah blah blah etc. The logo of Hopper is designed by myself :).

Other usages

• Advertisement for Hopper: You can run /xhop ad to show your Hopper version and advertise for it. A short advertisement passage is automatically sent to the people you are talking to in the conversation window.

• Messenger's Options Page: You can run /xhop options to bring up Messenger's Tools\Options\General page. If you are flooded by other's toasts, you can turn the toasts off in the page.

• By running /xhop A special argument, you open the easter egg that comes with HopperSi;)

• /xhopondl can be used as a timered blocker too. For example, if one of your contacts is very annoying and you want to block him/her for 5 minutes, simply run /xhopondl 300 in a conversation window to him/her.

• If you want to 'hop' with your new nickname (to show off), simply use /xhopnick New nick. Hopper will change your nickname, perform a hop, but not change your nickname back (while /xhopto does so). This command, however, is not compatible with Windows Messenger 5.

Change log

• 2.42 Build 179 (Si-Service Release 1a), released on 2004/10/20
  • This is a maintenance build. No new function is added, but many have improved. Everyone is strongly recommended to update.
  • Minimal Plus! requirement changed to Plus! 3.25.
  • The way Hopper handles /xhopto and /xhoponto has been changed; faster and more accurate.
  • I am sure that /xhop away now never pops up Personalised Status window. The solution is a little bit tricky :P.
  • How Hopper dectects if your contacts have Hopper (/xhopsend hpr_verreq) has changed a lot; it now works much more like Plus!' /ping command.
  • How Hopper deal with Resources has changed.
  • Other slight code improvements. I included some codes used in Hopper³ - I'm currently designing the Prototype of the next major version and that's what you should expect to be released in 2005!


• 2.41 Build 175 (Si-Service Release 1), released on 2004/07/31
  • Thanks to exception handling added in the previous build, lots of compatibility issues have been fixed. For example, compatibility with Screenshot Sender 3 has been improved.
  • Memory usage has been reduced to about less than 10% it used to be in previous builds.
  • The resultant messageboxes about your contact's ability to use /xhopsend toasts are removed. You can still access the result list through /xhopsend hpr_info or Hopper Control Center.
  • A link to # Middle Sea site has been added in About window.
  • The max number of Hop On Contacts (/xhopon series) per run is changed back to 5.
  • You will get a MessageBox if Anti-Flood Protection is in effect when you run the commands.
  • Enhanced Installer (normal users would not feel the changes).
  • Other slight code improvements.


• 2.40 Build 169, released on 2004/06/28
  • Exception handling (well, it's Debug things anyway) has been widely added. This adds some bytes to the files but should help me diagnose problems some people are encountering.


• 2.40 Build 168, released on 2004/05/30
  • Various small fixes.
  • /xhopon commands have been completely recoded. It should now work properly.


• 2.40 Build 167, released on 2004/05/24
  • Final release.
  • Some improvements.


• Private Release Candidate III 2.40 Build 166, firstly released on 2004/05/04
  • Enhanced Windows Messenger 5 compatibility, thanks to Patchou's new little plugin function.
  • Clicking on a Hopper Toast sent by /xhopsend now makes the corresponding conversation window focused.
  • Other small fixes/improvements.


• Private Release Candidate II 2.40 Build 165, firstly released on 2004/04/25
  • Thanks to the plugin interface change by Patchou, there should not be command-not-recognized error or crash anymore.
  • Completely restructure. Now there are actual DLL file and resource DLL file (just like Plus! itself). It's due too...
  • Complete Unicode support - command line or HCC! Thanks for Patchou's instructions;) The setup package has increased another 130KB but I think it's bearable:)
  • The Installer detects the Windows system (NT-based or 95-based) you are using and extracts/installs the corresponding files.


• Private Release Candidate 2.30 Build 162, firstly released on 2004/04/18
  • This will be the first version distributed to the selected testers.
  • Check for update now actively tells you if there is a new version when you click the Check button.
  • HCC functions have been successfully transformed.
  • A small HCC function fix.
  • Confirmation messagebox has been removed when you request Hopper version.
  • Actually, /xhop away should never pops up Personalised Status window, but directly change your status silently. It was a limitation from Plus! and, after some "cheat" alteration, it just works fine now.
  • Easter Eggie! (A picture and a sound)


• Mnjul Private Beta 2.29 Build 160
  • Unicode for commands now supported.
  • Code restructure and improvements.
  • HCC GUI design finished.
  • Added /xhopsend hpr_showwhenbusy which lets Hopper Toasts display even when your status is Busy and thus Plus! disables its notifications.


• Mnjul Private Alpha 2.28 Build 156
  • Transformation into C++ code majorly done (except HCC part).

For older change logs, please take a look at this page.

p.s. Private Beta is a version that is released to some testers selected by me. Mnjul Private Beta is a remarkable but unstable release, and is never released to others. Versions without the two labels are public releases.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is there any way to bypass flood protection?
  No, there is not.

• Sometimes, /xhopto, /xhoponto or /xhopnick doesn't change my nickname to custom messages when hopping.
  Hopper uses a timer to run /xhopto, /xhoponto or /xhopnick command; if your CPU is high-loaded or your net connection bandwidth is highly-occupied, there may be the following situations:
  1. Your nick hasn't been changed to custom messages when Hopper makes Messenger go online/unblock people.
  2. Your nick has been changed back from custom messages when Hopper makes Messenger go goline/unblock people.
  Both result in the problem that toasts are seen with your original/old nickname.

• My contact says he/she doesn't see my custom messages.
  If you contact uses MSN Messenger 6's View contacts by email function or Messenger Plus!'s Custom names feature, he/she can't see your custom toast messages, which are actually your temporarily-altered nickname. Instead, he/she sees your email address or Plus! custom name.

• Hopper doesn't seem to work with Windows Messenger 5 or polygamy-like programs.
  Due to the fact that Messenger Plus!, which provides platform for Hopper to run under, is not fully compatible with Windows Messenger 5 or polygamy-like programs, Hopper may not work well with them.

• Hopper doesn't seem to parse my /xhopon commands when I click "Send". Moreover, if I click "Send" again, Messenger crashes!
  It's a limitation, sorry. I suggest you wait longer - until your contact is blocked.

Can't find your question here? Head for Feedback to get to know how to contact me!

Bug reports, Suggestions or Other Feedbacks

If you encountered an error in Hopper and were asked to report it, please take a screenshot of the error message box, and report everything to the official thread. Please do not forget to write about what you did to raise the problem :).

I hadn't programmed anything for two months when the first version of Hopper was released, and HopperSi is actually my first big Visual C++ project. Not designed by a professional programmer, it surely - and always - needs some improvements. If you find any problem of or have got some any ideas for Hopper, please post about it on the official thread (registration needed).

If you wish to give me some support, just donate some :)

Indeed, it's the thought that counts ;)

Menu

Home

Info

Installation and
Uninstallation

Usage - /xhop

Usage - /xhopon

Usage - /xhopsend

Usage - /xhopcc

Usage - other

Changelog

FAQ

Feedback and
Bug Reports

HopperSi Readme by Mnjul, # Middle Sea, Mnjul's Intimate Home ©.
MSN Messenger, Windows Messenger are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Messenger Plus!, MsgPlus and Plus! are registered trademarks of Patchou.
Any other trademarks are property of their owners.