This version includes new versions with reporting, call handling, basic operation, customization, and the addition of Exit Surveys and Proactive Trends Report:

Chat Dialog Organizer - Chats between operators and visitors are now grouped based on the author:

This means the author's name is not rewritten if the previous response belongs to them. The goal is for a cleaner layout.

Filter Reports by Department - This filter is available now for the Chat Transcript, Operator Performance, Chat Trends, and Return Visitor Resolution reports.

Chat Window Customization Revamp - This system has been rededesigned from the ground up to provide a better way of modifying and previewing the CSS and HTML.

Time Stamps - Time stamps can now be added to each chat dialog.

Department Level Dynamic Buttons - Now the Online Status of Chat Buttons will reflect the availability of Operators at a department level.

Surveys - You can now create surveys to be run at the end of chats. Run reports to see the results for each chat session or compiled as a whole.

Insert Question - The initial question that the Visitor types before chat is now included in the chat conversation.

Change Password by Operators - Operators can now change their password without relying on the Administrator.

Proactive Trend Report - View the effectiveness of your Proactive Invitations with a report that shows Accept, Decline, and Ignore rates.

HTML Removed in Chat Transcript Export - When you export the chats from the Chat Transcript Tool, the chat content does not include any HTML Markups.

Improvements to Operator Console - Draggable setting boxes have been removed, Hotkeys, Call Transfer, and Screen Sharing requests can be toggled from within a chat window.

AliveChat Operator Console Windows Component - 6/7/2007

Revision 2 (2.02.0000)

Save Settings - Previous version did not allow user to save settings that were changed from the menu when computer restarted.

Copy and Paste - Previous version had issues with copy and paste which works now.

Window Resize - You can now resize window by dragging and dropping right corner.

AliveChat 4.2 - 6/4/2007

This update will include new functionality, such as image uploading and live screen sharing, and improvements in call handling, and various bug fixes.

Image Upload - No longer will there be a need to contact our staff to upload images for logos and chat windows. You can upload your own logos, hotkey images, and proactive popup images and AliveChat will automatically host it on an SSL server at no cost.

Hotkey Images - You can now add images to a Hotkey, and send them through chat.

Live Screen Sharing - We've partnered with LiveLook, a live screen sharing company to offer a fully integrated screen sharing solution within AliveChat. Click here for full details.

Chat Labels - You can now create customized labels for your completed chats. For example, you can create labels such as 'Spam' or 'Completed Chat' so your Operators can rate them when a chat is complete. You can then run reports based on these labels.

Auto Link URLs - If you type in URLs during chat, AliveChat will automatically format it into a clickable link. No more copy and pasting!

Custom Outbox Sender E-mail - Now you can specify the e-mail address of the sender which shows up when your visitors request a copy of transcripts. Now, outbox@websitealive.com can be replaced by your own outgoing e-mail.

Time Zone Bug - Some reports were producing results with incorrect time zones.

Title Bar Text Label - You can specify the text that shows up on the Visitor Chat Windows during a chat session. You can customize it with the time/date or any text.

Call Handling Bug - Bug is fixed related to chat transcripts not being recorded when transfers occur.

AliveChat 4.1 - 3/11/2007

This update will include improvements in call responsiveness, web site identification, administration, reporting, call routing, Windows and Mac Components, and overall bug fixes.

**Update Needed** - You will need to re-size any Proactive Pop-Ups you have set up for your account. AliveChat 4.1 has improvements for the Proactive Pop-Up editor. If not updated, your Proactive Pop-Ups may not display properly. We are offering complimentary assistance to current LITE, PRO, and PRO+ subscribers. Please send us an e-mail at: techsupport@websitealive.com.

Web Site Icons - Now, you can specify a 16x16 icon to help you identify the different web sites in your Live Site Monitor

Administrator Rights and Permissions for Operator - Administrators can grant rights to allow Operators to log in as Administrators and perform actions.

Resizing of Operator Console - You can now resize the Operator Console by dragging the bottom right corner.

Windows Component Update - You can now minimize the entire Console into the System Tray. You can also resize the Console by dragging the bottom right corner

New Mac Component - Now, Mac users can enjoy a desktop shortcut which launches AliveChat from their Mac Dock. More information here.

Chat Transcript Manager Improvement - Now, you can produce reports with specific columns, and obtain information found in the Information Capture.

Call Responsiveness - Accepting, passing, and rejecting chats are now made with an indicator system which improves responsiveness.

AliveChat 4.0 Major Release - 12/2/2006

		New, AJAX Powered Interface - AliveChat 4 is totally redesigned with AJAX (see our article on AJAX and Web 2.0) components which provide over 30% faster response times and less CPU usage compared to previous versions (AliveChat 3).
		Tabbed Chats - Now, all chat windows are tabbed or contained within the Operator Console, which allow your representatives to handle more concurrent chats with less work and more efficiency. Say goodbye to the days of multiple pop-up windows which take up extra room in your task bar, and are difficult to navigate on the desktop.
		Multiple Web Site Support - Create different Chat Window designs for different web sites! No longer do you need to use the same Chat Window design for your many web sites. You can now create unlimited brands for as many web sites as you wish. This allows you to easily support many web sites with one AliveChat account.
		New Operator Console Component for Windows - The Operator Console .NET is replaced with a Windows executable (.exe) which is lighter, faster, and more stable. The new console also includes an idle detection feature which will automatically set your Operator Console to 'Away' mode if you leave your computer, and back to 'Online' status when you return.
		Safari/Mac Compatibility - Mac users rejoice! AliveChat 4 is now designed with Mac users in mind. Run AliveChat on Mac out of the box with the Safari browser, or use Firefox for Mac.
		...And Many More Improvements - Backend improvements such as database optimization and server/network upgrades have dramatically increased the performance of AliveChat 4. Also, we've improved the design of AliveChat 4 to give it a facelift for 2007.

AliveChat 3.5 - 6/04/2006

Details: A major update for AliveChat. Improvements allows AliveChat to more efficiently handle high-traffic web sites and at the same time saving bandwidth for smoother operation. Other enhancements include pre-made templates and chat buttons and additional call handling functions.

Dynamic Site Monitor - Probably the most signficant improvement for AliveChat which allows a smooth monitoring of visitors via Live Site Monitor. Does not require constant refresh as the previous versions do. This results in smoother operation and less bandwidth, and the ability for AliveChat to handle high volume web sites more effectively.

Additional HTML module in Visitor Chat Window Customization - Allows additional customization of Visitor Chat Windows by allowing a free form HTML area.

Visitor Chat Window Templates - Includes pre-designed Visitor Chat Window Themes which allow instant customization.

Chat Button Gallery - Includes a gallery of different chat buttons themed for a variety of industries such as Real Estate, Finance, Corporate, and Web Hosting.

Auto Away on Missed Calls - Operators can have their statuses set to 'Away' mode after a set time period if they do not pick up the call.

Transcript Manager - Allows Administrators to define a date range to view and download chat transcripts (to .CSV file).

Auto Resize of Chat Window - Automatically resizes Visitor Chat Window if you have changed the window dimensions in Customization. User does not need to re-insert code into web site.

New Outgoing E-mail Server - Some issues with sending out e-mails have been solved with new SMTP Outgoing E-mail Server.

AliveChat 3.4.3 - 2/12/2006

Details: This version of AliveChat 3 has improvements in visitor managability, usability, and bug fixes.

Visitor Session Timeout - Administrators can set a timeout value for visitors to be automatically logged off of your Live Site Monitor due to inactivity. This solved the issue of a visitor appearing on your site for many hours, but they just have their browser window open to your web site.

Visitor Chat Request Timeout - Administrators can set a Visitor wait timeout for when a Visitor is waiting to connect to an Operator. If this value is exceeded, the Operator who missed the call will automatically be set to Away Mode, and the Visitor will be redirected to the next available online Operator.

Reordering of Visitors in Live Site Monitor - Newest visitors appear on top of the Live Site Monitor.

Unicode Support - Chat sessions can now display Unicode characters.

Visitor E-mail Address Capture - You can now prompt the Visitor to enter in their e-mail address prior to a chat session. This information can be used during chat. At the end of chat, Visitor can opt to send the transcript to their e-mail which is autopopulated in the form entry.

Optional Initial Question - You may now turn on/turn off this feature which allows visitors to enter in an initial question before chat.

Information Capture Text Input - Now you can have a free text input for Information Capture. Before IC only allowed drop down and radio selections.

Define Custom Variables - Now you can pass dynamic information into AliveChat via the Live Site Tracking Code. For example, if your visitors are in a member's only area which requires a username and password to access, you can pass their username to AliveChat, and it will show up as a Custom Variable in the Live Site Monitor. You may also track this Visitor's Custom Variables inside the Visitor Recorder.

AliveChat 3.4.2 - 12/01/2005

Details: This version of AliveChat has integration with the Administrator Tools, and new Administrator Reporting Modules.

Operator Access - Operators can access the Administrator Tools directly from their Operator Console. Only Operators that have Administrator level access can perform this.

Visitor Recorder Module - AliveChat can now save the past visitor sessions in a searchable archive. See visitor information, exit pages, referer URLs, and many other useful information for marketing purposes.

AliveChat 3.4.1 - 8/01/2005

Details: This version of AliveChat 3.0 has support for Firefox browsers.

Firefox Compatibility - Now AliveChat not only works on IE6, Firefox users can experience it. Also, Mac users who would like to use AliveChat can now with Firefox.

Sound Fix - In addtion to Firefox compatibility, the sound alert system has been improved.

Administrator Console - General usability improvements have been made to the administrator console.

AliveChat 3.4.0 - 6/19/2005

Details: This version features a new Proactive Pop-Up format, along with various bug fixes, and usability improvements.

Updated Interface - AliveChat 3.4.0 now includes a new 'skin', giving it a brushed aluminum feel.

Proactive Pop-Up Version 2 - A new Proactive Pop-Up format has been implemented. Now, the Proactive Pop-Up can scroll up and down, following the visitor in case your web page has alot of content. This solves the issue when your visitor is browsing the bottom of your page, and cannot see your Proactive Request which was static near the top. Another enhancement has been the elimination of the 'Accept' and 'Reject' buttons. Visitor can just click on the Pop-Up to accept, and click on the 'x' graphic which is embedded on the top right to reject.

Operator Console .NET version 1.0.0 - The previous beta version of this client has been. 1.0.0 features visual and bug fix updates from the previous version. AliveChat Help menu has been integrated into the application. The problem with AliveChat not shutting down when users log off their Windows session is fixed.

Offline Redirect to Web Page fix - A problem when organizations set their Offline mode to 'Redirect to Web Page' has been fixed. Previously, the redirection would close the window before the configured web page could load.

Offline and Chat Customization - Additional customization options have been added to the Offline menu, as well as the begin chat menu.

Administrator Return Visitor Resolution Filter with Information Capture (PRO+ only) - This allows you to filter the Return Visitor Resolution reporting tool with various values from your configured Information Capture inputs. For example, you can filter which operators answered chats that involed the visitor selecting 'Product A'.

Known Bug: Site Monitor Error - The problem when the Site Monitor produces an error has been fixed. This would occur when you request a Proactive Chat with a visitor and their session on your web site has ended, but they still accept, producing an error.

AliveChat 3.3.8 - 5/14/2005

Details: This version includes a continued integration with a new executable AliveChat 3 Operator Console .NET. Other minor improvements include:

Select Department to Chat with - When you generate your live chat button code, you can select for the visitor to select a department first before chat.

Operator Client .NET - Run your AliveChat Operator Console inside your Windows System Tray! We've developed a Windows executable that allows your Operator Console to be launched from inside Windows. This is an entirely optional piece of software, so you can still launch AliveChat via our web site login page.

Require Operator in Department - If your operator account is not configured to be in a department, you will not be able to log in until it is corrected in the administrator console. This is to ensure proper seating of the operators.

AliveChat 3.3.7 - 5/7/2005

Details: This version includes an integration with a new executable AliveChat 3 Operator Console .NET. Other minor improvements include:

Invalid Department Fix - If you generated code for an invalid department, you will not receive an error in your Live Site Monitor.

Operator Client .NET - Run your AliveChat Operator Console inside your Windows System Tray! We've developed a Windows executable that allows your Operator Console to be launched from inside Windows. This is an entirely optional piece of software, so you can still launch AliveChat via our web site login page.

AliveChat 3.3.6 - 5/1/2005

Details: This version of AliveChat has improvements in the Site Monitor, as well as feature limitations that will be in effect for our AliveChat line of products.

Site Monitor Improvements: The Site Monitor no longer will include the use of graphic images. This will speed up access and response times by not needing to reload any images. Instead, colors and graphics are improved by the use of tables and a new color scheme.

Feature Limitations:

For AliveChat FREE customers, their accounts will have the following limitations:

1. View up to 5 Chat Histories
2. Use of 1 Custom Proactive Pop-Up
3. Minimum of 2000ms Chat Response Rate

For AliveChat LITE, PRO, and PRO+ customers, there is a new licensing model:

AliveChat LITE: 2 concurrent operators
AliveChat PRO: 3 concurrent operators
AliveChat PRO+: 4 concurrent operators

Existing clients will have the original amount of operators grandfathered in.

AliveChat 3.3.5 - 4/10/2005

Details: This version eliminates almost all pop-up windows within the Operator Console, and includes new module developments for the Administrator Analysis (AliveChat PRO+ users only).

No more pop-up windows: All AliveChat menus except for the Operator-Client chat windows have now been eliminated. Now, the pop-ups are accessed as div layers which appear within the Operator Console when clicked. This eliminates the need for setting up your pop-up blockers and opening up annoying pop-ups that take up your desktop room.

Administrator Real-Time Traffic Monitor: Your administrators can now monitor the traffic of your operators in real-time. View which operators are online, who they are chatting with, and which visitors are visiting which page.

Administrator Real-Time Monitor Chat: Administrators can now join in current chats that occur with the company operators. By using the Administrator Real-Time Traffic Monitor, they can monitor existing chats and converse with the operator and visitor if needed.

AliveChat 3.3.2 - 02/10/2005

Details: This version has enhancements to performance, data capture, and various bug fixes.

Information Capture: Now you can prompt the visitor to answer a mini questionnaire before they start chat. You can create your own campaign by asking them details such as the product they have, or if they are an existing customer. These questions can be of a dropdown box or radio button format.

Auto-Refresh Site Monitor: The Site Monitor now refreshes automatically without the user clicking "refresh" to view new traffic data.

Faster Connection Speed on Incoming Chats: When an initial visitor comes and connects to an operator, the response time is shortened, providing a very fast notification to the operator of the incoming chat.

Adjustable Ping Rate: This will allow operators to fine tune their response times with their current internet connection speed so that chats run more smoothly and are more efficient on the client and server.

Time Convert Error: A bug is now fixed which previously stored visitor's chat histories timestamps as all AM times.

New Status Window: A status window within your chat window will allow more information to be available when you are chatting due to a scrollable window. Now you can see your Information Capture details.

Site Monitor View All: You can now see traffic requests with other operators. View incoming calls and present chats that occur with other operators in the Site Monitor.

Missed Calls: All missed calls are now logged in a chat history record.

Concurrent Calls: Each chat that occurs while there are other chats occuring in the same company will be flagged as a concurrent chat.

Queued Calls: If a chat request goes into the queue, this request will be flagged as a queued call.

Log in Bug: When operators go to away mode and then come back, they might not be able to accept any calls due to this bug. The bug has been disposed.

Return Visitor Bug: When returning visitors chat from the same browser session, the bug would make them append to the previous chat, without starting a new chat. Now, each new chat request creates a new chat session.

AliveChat 3.2.2.1 Bug Patch

Links for SSL Button and Site Monitor Code: If you are including your site monitor code on an SSL protected page, this update allows AliveChat to work with SSL. If you are an AliveChat Lite user, the site monitor code and button code will not prompt the visitor for an alert, but when you start a chat, the visitor will receive this prompt, since AliveChat Lite is not SSL enabled.

Site Monitor Bug: A bug fix has been created to address an issue when the site monitor keeps refreshing due to visitors with 2 or more browsers open on the same site but different pages. This causes the site tracker to think that the user is going to different pages and creates different footprints, which requires the site monitor to refresh.

Visitor and Operator Chat Window Buttons: General buttons and links have been rearranged on the Operator and Visitor Chat windows to allow better usability.

New Login Process (Quick Login): Quick Login is now implemented for Operator Consoles. This allows an AliveChat user to save their username and password as a cookie on their computer which speeds up the login process by implementing 1-click sign on.

Live Help Link: Live help link has been included in the Operator Console to support AliveChat users.

AliveChat 3.3.1 - 01/10/2005

Details: This version has enhancements to hotkeys, as well as chat-time usability, and various bug fixes.

Quick Hotkey Sender: Preview Hotkey descriptions directly in your chat screen. Previously, the hotkey selector was found in a pop-up window. Now, the hotkeys are loaded during chat-time, and can be quickly accessed through a drop down list. The previous hotkey selector is still available as a hotkey browser, in which you can also see the entire content of the hotkey.

Flashing Title Bar: Previously, the operator would receive only audible notices when he/she receives new text from the customer. Now, a flashing-text Title Bar accompanies the audible notification. Only operators will see this flashing title bar. Here are instructions for IE 6.0 SP2 users to make sure this works for them:

Tools -> Internet Options -> Security -> Trusted Sites -> Sites -> Add "https://www.websitealive3.com"

This is required for IE 6.0 SP2 browsers because the full domain name is displayed in the title bar if the web site is not in your trusted sites. The URL is displayed only when the web page uses frames, and the AliveChat application uses such frames which makes the URL appear. The visibility of the URL blocks the flashing title bar from view of the user and must be removed by this method.

Pre-chat Visitor Information: Information such as visitor IP, browser, question can be displayed as a block of information before each chat session.

End of Chat Custom Transcript Message: A custom message can now be inserted before the chat transcript when the visitor requests a copy of the chat session.

Bug Fix: Timer: A new timer system has been implemented to replace the older one, which produced inaccurate time increments. Also, the bug with inconsistent time for each chat window has been fixed.

AliveChat 3.3.0 - 11/18/2004

Details: This version has several enhancements to customizability, visitor tracking, and administrator improvements.

Customizable Proactive Pop Ups - You can now customize one or several proactive pop ups for your proactive sales. This allows you to send visitors different pop ups for your different needs. For example, you can offer a coupon like pop up for your product page, and support type pop up for support needs.

Visitor Footprint - Now you can track your visitor's browsing path (also known as 'footprints') with the Live Site Monitor.

Visitor Country - Based on their IP address, AliveChat can now do a lookup of the visitor's country. This will help target your users based on geographic location.

AliveChat 3.2.3 - 10/28/2004

Details: This version of AliveChat 3.0 has an away feature, and improved Graphic User Interface (GUI).

Away Status - Now there is an 'away' online status. If you are on 'away' status, no one can chat with you, but you can still be online to monitor the traffic on your site, with the AliveChat Site Monitor. Your status in the operator room will look like you are offline, but you can still receive operator to operator chat messages.

Improved GUI - Buttons found in the operator console are now improved with swap image functionality. Creates an better user 'feel'.

AliveChat 3.2.2 - 10/18/2004

Details: This version of AliveChat 3.0 has a new chat engine, and lower bandwidth requirements.

New Chat Engine - You will experience faster chat response times, and smoother chat sessions without the 'flash' that comes with the refreshing of the older versions.

Lower Bandwidth Consumption - With the new chat engine, the bandwidth requirements of the chat sessions have been reduced by almost 2/3. Now, 1 operator chatting with 3 simultaneous chat sessions will require about 2.5 kb/second, versus 6.0 kb/second found in the previous version.

AliveChat 3.2.1 - 10/04/2004

Bug Fixes - problems with chat history not sendable fixed.

Return Visitors - AliveChat now detects return visitors when they engage in a chat with you. A return visitor is based on their IP and browser settings. If their IP and browser setting combination appears in past histories, they are considered a return visitor.

Console Stats Interface - The AliveChat operator console has a new operator statistics window which provides your screenname, company name, and past chat histories.

Screen Resolution Preference - Now operators can customize the screen resolution of AliveChat to suit their monitors. You can select from preset dimensions or create your own. Minimum dimension is 900w x 600h

Time Zone Settings - Administrator can set the time zone for the operators based on +/- GMT.

Operator Online Improvement - Online and Offline operators are now part of the Operator Online Buddy List.

AliveChat 3.2.0 - 9/28/2004

Updates Include:

Bug Fixes - problems with Admin Hotkeys, Call Transfer, and User Tracking were fixed.

Customization - Now, the AliveChat Visitor Screens are 100% customizable. There are 2 methods of customizing the windows: Auto-Configure and Manual CSS Editing. In essence, you are able to edit your background color, font styles, input font styles, browser window size, chat element placement (position of every element in the chat window), and even add your own HTML elements (with knowledge of CSS)!

Details:

Method 1 (Auto Configure)
[Some HTML knowledge required]

From this option, you can configure the font style, background, and logos instantly. No need for any HTML knowledge, just click and set. This results in the least work, but less customization flexibility.

Method 2 (Auto Configure + Manual CSS Editing)
[Advanced HTML/CSS knowledge required]

First, complete Method 1 above to set a foundation for your style. Then, you can customize each individual screen by editing the CSS code, and saving it. This results in more work, but you can make AliveChat look virtually any way you want to.

AliveChat 3.1.2 - 9/19/2004

Updates Include:

Bug Fixes - Some issues with the client side timing out were resolved.

New Directory Structure - Each company will have AliveChat within its own Virtual Directory. This translates to faster response time for the traffic monitor and various other parts that use Application Variables.

NOTE - All users registered before 9/19/2004 must re-generate their web site code.

AliveChat 3.1.1 - 9/15/2004

Details: This version of AliveChat 3.0 has the addition of a live site monitor and proactive chat. This means you will be able to track all your online visitors in real-time, and "proactively" prompt them to chat with you. All this can be done by inserting a line of code within each page you want to track.

Live Site Monitor - Get information about your visitor as they browse through your site. Gather their IP, Browser Configuration, Current Page, and see what link they clicked on to reach your site (also called the Referer).

Proactive Chat - Once you feel as they might need some additional assistance to their visit on your website, you can prompt them to chat with you. The visitor will not have to click on the support button to chat as in the standard support mode, as they will instead be greeted by a friendly notification that you would like to chat with them. This notification works through pop-up blockers and is cross browser compatible.

How to install proactive chat capability on your website:

1. Click on code generator on the left menu, and select the department you wish to create the script for.
2. Go through the steps until you reach the final page with all the code. The third code snippet at the bottom is the code you will need. Copy and paste this code on every page you wish to track users on. Make sure you insert the code inside the tags, or it will not work for some browsers.