{{DISPLAYTITLE:_OPENHOST}}
The [[_OPENHOST]] function opens a Host which listens for new connections and returns a Host status handle.


{{PageSyntax}}
: {{Parameter|hostHandle}} = [[_OPENHOST]]('''"TCP/IP:8080"''')


{{PageDescription}}
* Creates an [[ERROR Codes|Illegal Function Call]] error if called with a string argument of the wrong syntax.
* The port used in the syntax example is 8080.
* Valid {{Parameter|hostHandle}} values are negative numbers.
* If the syntax is correct but they fail to begin/connect a {{Parameter|hostHandle}} of 0 is returned.
* Always check if the handle returned is 0 (failed) before continuing.  
* [[CLOSE]] {{Parameter|hostHandle}} closes the host. A failed handle value of 0 does not need to be closed.


{{PageExamples}}
''Example:'' Chat program that attempts to connect as a Client. If not it attempts to become the Host.

{{CodeStart}}

 {{Cl|PRINT}} "Mini Messenger"
 {{Cl|LOCATE}} , , 1 ' display the print cursor for INKEY$
 client = {{Cl|_OPENCLIENT}}("TCP/IP:7319:localhost") ' Attempt to connect to local host as a client 
 {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} client {{Cl|THEN}}
  {{Cl|PRINT}} "[connected to " + {{Cl|_CONNECTIONADDRESS}}(client) + "]"
  {{Cl|_TITLE}} "Client - Mini Messenger"
  {{Cl|INPUT}} "Enter your name: ", myname$
  {{Cl|PRINT (TCP/IP statement)|PRINT}} #client, myname$ + " connected!"
  {{Cl|DO...LOOP|DO}}
   GetMessage client
   SendMessage myname$, mymessage$, client ' display current input on screen
   {{Cl|_DELAY}} 0.01 ' reduce CPU usage
  {{Cl|LOOP}}
 {{Cl|ELSE}} ' "if client" alternative to open a new Host
  {{Cl|PRINT}} "[No existing host found]"
  host = {{Cl|_OPENHOST}}("TCP/IP:7319") ' no host found, so begin new host
  {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} host {{Cl|THEN}}
   {{Cl|_TITLE}} "Host - Mini Messenger"
   {{Cl|PRINT}} "[Beginning new host chat session!]"
   {{Cl|DIM}} Users(1 to 1000) ' array to hold other client info
   numclients = 0
   client = {{Cl|_OPENCLIENT}}("TCP/IP:7319:localhost")
   IF client = 0 THEN PRINT "ERROR: could not attach host's personal client to host!"
   {{Cl|INPUT}} "Enter your name:", myname$
   {{Cl|PRINT (TCP/IP statement)|PRINT}} #client, myname$ + " connected!"
   {{Cl|PRINT}} "[Chat session active!]"
   {{Cl|DO...LOOP|DO}} ' host main loop
    newclient = {{Cl|_OPENCONNECTION}}(host) ' receive any new connection
    {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} newclient {{Cl|THEN}}
     numclients = numclients + 1
     Users(numclients) = newclient
     {{Cl|PRINT (TCP/IP statement)|PRINT}} #Users(numclients),"Welcome!"
    {{Cl|END IF}}
    {{Cl|FOR...NEXT|FOR}} i = 1 {{Cl|TO}} numclients ' distribute incoming messages to all clients
     {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} Users(i) {{Cl|THEN}}
      {{Cl|INPUT (TCP/IP statement)|INPUT}} #Users(i), message$
      {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} message$ <> "" {{Cl|THEN}}
       {{Cl|FOR...NEXT|FOR}} p = 1 {{Cl|TO}} numclients
        {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} Users(p) {{Cl|THEN}} {{Cl|PRINT (TCP/IP statement)|PRINT}} #Users(p), message$
       {{Cl|NEXT}} p
      {{Cl|END IF}}
     {{Cl|END IF}}
    {{Cl|NEXT}} i
    GetMessage client ' allow host to get messages and chat also
    SendMessage myname$, mymessage$, client
    {{Cl|_DELAY}} 0.01 ' reduce CPU usage
   {{Cl|LOOP}}
  {{Cl|END IF}} ' host 
  {{Cl|PRINT}} "ERROR: Could not begin new host!" 
 {{Cl|END IF}} ' if client from start
 {{Cl|SLEEP}}
 {{Cl|SYSTEM}}

   '.................... END OF MAIN PROGRAM ................
 

 {{Cl|SUB}} GetMessage (client) ' get & display any new message
  {{Cl|INPUT (TCP/IP statement)|INPUT}} #client, newmessage$
  {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} newmessage$ <> "" {{Cl|THEN}}
   {{Cl|VIEW PRINT}} 1 {{Cl|TO}} 23
   {{Cl|LOCATE}} 23,1
   {{Cl|PRINT}} newmessage$
   {{Cl|VIEW PRINT}} 1 {{Cl|TO}} 24
  {{Cl|END IF}}
 {{Cl|END SUB}}

 {{Cl|SUB}} SendMessage (myname$, mymessage$, client) ' simple input handler
  k$ = {{Cl|INKEY$}}
  {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} {{Cl|LEN}}(k$) {{Cl|THEN}}
   {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} k$ = {{Cl|CHR$}}(8) {{Cl|AND (boolean)|AND}} [[LEN]](mymessage$) <> 0 {{Cl|THEN}}
    mymessage$ = {{Cl|LEFT$}}(mymessage$, {{Cl|LEN}}(mymessage$) - 1)
   {{Cl|ELSE}}
    {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} {{Cl|LEN}}(k$) = 1 {{Cl|AND (boolean)|AND}} {{Cl|ASC}}(k$) >= 32 {{Cl|THEN}} mymessage$ = mymessage$ + k$
   {{Cl|END IF}}
  {{Cl|END IF}}
  {{Cl|LOCATE}} 24, 1: {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|SPACE$}}(80); ' erase previous message displayed
  {{Cl|LOCATE}} 24, 1: {{Cl|PRINT}} myname$ + ": ";mymessage$;
  {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} k$ = {{Cl|CHR$}}(13) {{Cl|THEN}} ' [Enter] sends the message
   {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} mymessage$ = "" {{Cl|THEN}} {{Cl|SYSTEM}} ' [Enter] with no message ends program
   {{Cl|PRINT (TCP/IP statement)|PRINT}} #client, myname$ + ": " + mymessage$
   mymessage$ = ""
  {{Cl|END IF}}
  {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} k$ = {{Cl|CHR$}}(27) {{Cl|THEN}} {{Cl|SYSTEM}} ' [Esc] key ends program
 {{Cl|END SUB}}

{{CodeEnd}}
{{OutputStart}}
Mini Messenger
[No existing host found]
[Beginning new host chat session!]
Enter your name:_
{{OutputEnd}}

''Explanation:'' The SendMessage SUB program controls the program exit unless both Client and Host fail. Entering no message and hitting [Enter] or pressing the [Esc]] key closes the program. Both SUB programs allow a Client or Host to communicate with others simply. {{KW|INPUT (TCP/IP statement)|INPUT #}} is used to read messages and {{KW|PRINT (TCP/IP statement)|PRINT #}} is used to send messages. The client handle value is used as the port number. Keep in mind that this is just an example. A lot could be added, like recording IP addresses.
<center>'''To manage the users array, see the [[_CONNECTED]] page example.'''</center>


{{PageSeeAlso}}
* [[_OPENCONNECTION]], [[_OPENCLIENT]]
* [[_CONNECTED]], [[_CONNECTIONADDRESS]]
* [[Email Demo]], [[Inter-Program Data Sharing Demo]] 
* [[IP Configuration]], [[WGET]] {{text|(HTTP and FTP file transfer)}}
* [[Downloading Files]]


{{PageNavigation}}