The FirstClass graphical interface adheres closely to the Macintosh and Windows interface standards—users can double click to open items, may drag items, etc. The system is intuitive and easy to learn by anyone who's ever used a Macintosh or Windows machine.
Multi-Window Multitasking
€ Users may open multiple windows to view multiple items or conduct several operations simultaneously.
€ Allows easy cutting and pasting of text from message to message
€ All file transfers between the user and the server take place in the background. Users can continue to read and compose mail or chat with others, even when a multiple file upload or download is in progress.
€ Users can always start new actions whenever they like and rarely see the dreaded watch or hourglass cursors.
€ No practical limit on number of consecutive operations.
Viewing Modes
€ FirstClass can display folders and their contents either by icon or by a list view. Forward or reverse sorting quickly changes the order of displayed items.
€ Views can show items listed by date, name or subject.
Online Help
€ A complete online help system is available to all users.
€ May be customized by the administrator to add help specific to their application or system.
Printing
€ Users can print any window in FirstClass, be it a message or not.
Color
€ FirstClass has full support for color, including color icons and color background conference pictures.
€ Icons and pictures may be customized globally by the administrator or locally by end-users.
User Preferences
€ Users may configure their own preferences, including sort order, window sizes, etc.
Complete Electronic Mail Facility
Fundamental to electronic communication is the empowering of users to send private mail to other users. The integrated groupware functionality of FirstClass conferencing builds on the principles of its e-mail. Messages are composed the exact same way with the exact same tools.
MailBox
€ All incoming private mail arrives in users' private mailboxes. Copies of outgoing mail are automatically retained in users' mailboxes.
€ Users can create and name folders where mail may be dragged to organize their mailboxes.
Easy Addressing
€ Users can type a partial name of a recipient into a To: or Cc: list and the name is validated and inserted instantly.
€ There is no limit to the number of recipients a message can have.
File Attachments
€ Users may attach any type of file to a message in FirstClass.
€ Any number of files may be attached to a given message.
€ Messages with attachments are indicated by a small file icon beside them in message lists.
€ Text, PICT, or sound attachments may be viewed online rather than downloaded. Other attachments can be launched upond download.
€ Attachments are downloaded from a message by double clicking on the attachments themselves. The download takes place in the background, freeing the user to perform other tasks—which can include other downloads or uploads!
€ If a user runs out of time or a power failure occurs in the middle of a file transfer, the transfer can resume where it left off when reconnected.
€ XModem? ZModem? Kermit? MacBinary? FirstClass uses its own proprietry protocol so you and your users don't have to worry about transfer details.
Mail Notification
€ Network users can be notified with a sound and/or screen message when new mail has arrived, even if they are not logged into the FirstClass server.
€ Server provides instant notification of received mail—client does not have to poll at all. Cuts network bandwidth in large organizations dramatically!
€ The FirstClass server and its single file per message structure allow delivery of any message in FirstClass in milliseconds, even across platforms.
Electronic Forms
€ FirstClass messages may be created and sent using various electronic forms which resemble real-world envelopes, phone message pads, requisition forms, etc.
€ Forms are useful when combined with gateways: a “fax” form can be used to send complete faxes (including your cover page or letterhead) to other fax machines with the optional FirstClass Fax Gateway.
Unread and Unsent Tracking
€ FirstClass tracks the status of every message for every user; unread messages can be easily identified by an red "unread" flag.
€ Messages may be saved but not sent to allow for later work. Unsent messages are marked with a clear flag.
€ Forwarding an item duplicates the message contents but leaves the address blank. Replying addresses a new message to the author of a previous message.
Autoreply & Autoforward
€ Users can configure their accounts to automatically send a reply to the sender of new mail or forward all new mail to another user or mailing list. Useful when on vacation or away on business.
Unsend
€ Removes a sent message from conferences or recipients’ mailboxes and allows for further editing.
History
€ At any time, users can check the history of any message to get a complete list of who has read, replied to or forwarded it.
Message Priorities
€ Priorities can influence when a gateway to another FirstClass system runs. Urgent messages are indicated in bold in message lists.
Message Sensitivity
€ Allows messages to be tagged for private delivery and messages to be routed over specific gateways to other systems.
Delivery Receipts
€ Receipts can be generated when a message is routed to another server, has been received by a recipient or has been read by a recipient. Receipts travel over FirstClass gateways.
Personal Mail Lists
€ Users can now create any number of their own mail lists.
Gateways
€ Gateways permit the routing of mail to other FirstClass servers. These allow you to create networks of linked FirstClass systems over network or modem for private mail, conference and file exchange.
€ Gateways are also available for sending mail from FirstClass to other mail systems, (such as the Internet) fax machines or even pocket pagers.
Directory Synchronization
€ FirstClass servers in large distributed mail systems can be instructed to automatically exchange user directory information. Users added or removed on individual servers are reflected in the directories of all servers in the system.
Multi-hop Routing
€ Mail sent to other systems do not need a direct FirstClass to FirstClass gateway. The server stores a list of all known systems automatically and can create the proper route for the mail to take.
Conferencing
Conferences are forums that users can read and send messages to. They appear as icons on users' desktops or may be nestled within other conferences, and are perfect for sharing information among large groups. Users can send to a conference simply by addressing mail to it... as if it were another user.
Unread Tracking
€ Like private mail, unread items in conferences are tracked on a per-user, per-item basis with red flags.
€ The icons of conferences containing unread items are themselves flagged with a red flag. Users can tell at a glance when there are new items to read.
Customizable Setups
€ The administrator can create any number of conferences.
€ Each conference has a unique name, and can be given a customized icon.
Single Copy Message Design
€ Only a single copy of each message and attached file is stored by the FirstClass server, regardless of the number of entries in the To: or Cc: fields or cross-posts to conferences.
€ Results in a significant reduction in disk use, and greater storage efficiency and speed.
Moderators
€ A conference can be moderated so that all submissions require approval by the administrator or a moderator.
Conference Security
€ The administrator can create conferences that can only be read by a selected set of users. Other users might not be able to open messages in that conference, or even know the conference exists at all depending on the administrator's decision.
Chat
€ Users may participate in public and private real-time chats with each other.
Access Methods
FirstClass supports access via AppleTalk, modems, the Macintosh Communications Toolbox and Novell IPX... all simultaneously without third party software or hardware. The FirstClass Protocol (FCP) architecture of the FirstClass server easily provides for multi protocol support at the server level. Up to 250 concurrent sessions of mixed protocols can by accommodated by the single high-performance FirstClass server.
AppleTalk Access
€ Users on an AppleTalk network may access a FirstClass server on the same network. FirstClass supports multiple zones, AppleTalk Remote Access and multiple servers per network.
IPX Access
€ Windows machines may log into the Macintosh FirstClass server with an Ethernet card and IPX driver (supplied with most Ethernet cards and Windows 3.1)
€ Novell NetWare not required!
€ Windows sessions are given the exact same priority by the FirstClass server
€ Provides for real-time chatting between platforms and instantaneous message delivery
€ Full server-level support for the Macintosh communications toolbox allows FirstClass to accept logins over a variety of sources... including ISDN, X.25 or ADSP.
Modem Access
€ Users not on the network can access FirstClass with any Hayes compatible modem, including high-speed models offering v.32bis, v.42bis and MNP features. Performance via high-speed modem rivals network performance.
€ Modem connections are made with the same FirstClass client used on the network. No special remote-access mail client to teach users.
€ Modem access for network users is a built-in feature with no extra charge.
€ Up to 22 modems per server can be accommodated by FirstClass, with no inherent software limit.
VT-100 Interface
€ With the optional Command Line User Interface, any user with a VT-100 terminal emulator can access all features of FirstClass and take advantage of a full screen editor for messages.
€ Can work over TCP/IP network, if both Macintosh server and Macintosh client are outfitted with TCP connection tool.
Encryption
€ All packets transmitted between client and server are encrypted automatically.
Administration
Many current electronic mail and bulletin board packages are difficult to install and administer. FirstClass has been designed to take care of itself with very little intervention. Some sites set their server up in a closet and let it run for months unattended.
Easy Installation
€ Installing the FirstClass server takes two disks and less than five minutes. Installing the client application is a matter of dragging a single file or running a simple installation program.
€ Other similar programs require dozens of disks to install and offer far less functionality.
Server-Friendly
€ The FirstClass server application runs perfectly on any Macintosh, even a Plus or Quadra.
€ Server already in use for file or print services can run the FirstClass server at the same time.
€ For system administrators with only a single Macintosh, the FirstClass server can be run in the background while the administrator logs in with FirstClass client from the same machine.
Remote Administration
€ All administration in FirstClass is handled through FirstClass client—the same software all others use, whether their connections are remote or local.
€ Allows administrators to log in and check on the system from home or the other side of the country.
€ Makes configuring server-to-server gateways trivial, even at a server around the world.
Privileges & Permissions
€ The FirstClass administrator can create groups of users with certain privileges and control the access a group or user has in any conference.
€ Users are easily added or removed from groups.
€ The desktops of users in a given group can look completely different and not contain any similar items if the administrator chooses to do so.
CD-ROM and External Volume Access
€ The administrator can link a CD-ROM into FirstClass. Users can have complete access to the CD, even over a modem.
€ Double clicking on an item on the CD-ROM can initiate download can be started.
€ Users may search CD-ROMs.
€ Similar links can be made to any hard drive, or any folder on any hard drive, connected to your server or accessible to it over a network.
€ The whole server's drive may be linked to the FirstClass administrator's desktop, allowing access to any file on the system
Auto Registration
€ If the "Auto Register" feature is enabled, new network or telecom users can fill out an on-line form and register themselves without the administrator's help.
Robust Server
€ Tired of servers that go down? The FirstClass server doesn't.
Auto Deletion
€ All private and conference messages in FirstClass are assigned a deletion date when created and are automatically removed after that date in automatic server housekeeping.
€ Disk space isn't wasted by out-of-date messages and the administrator's workload is substantially less than with other systems.
Low Memory Requirements
€ The basic FirstClass server requires less than 1 megabyte of free memory for operation. The FirstClass client requires only 600k. FirstClass will run on any machine in your office.
Easy Upgrades
€ The FirstClass server and client can usually be upgraded in seconds at any time.
€ Software upgrades are always free for download from SoftArc.
