Instant Messaging System – MedConnect

An ASP.NET WebForms-based real-time messaging application that enables doctors and patients to communicate instantly. Built with SignalR for real-time communication and a Microsoft Access database for data persistence.

Features

• User authentication with role-based access (Doctor and Patient)
• Real-time chat using SignalR
• Message read/unread indicators with timestamp
• Typing indicator for active conversations
• Chat history loading from the database
• Responsive and modern UI with separate views for doctors and patients
• Profile management (update full name, email, and password)
• Secure session management
• Optional file sharing feature

Technologies Used

• ASP.NET WebForms
• SignalR (Microsoft.AspNet.SignalR)
• Microsoft Access (.accdb)
• ADO.NET with OleDb
• HTML/CSS/JavaScript
• jQuery

How to Run the Project

1. Clone the Repository git clone https://github.com/oguzhansarigol/Instant-Messaging-System.git

2. Open in Visual Studio

• Open the .sln file in Visual Studio 2022.
• Make sure the ChatDB.accdb file is located in the App_Data folder (or wherever the Web.config connection string points to).

3. Configure Database Connection

• Open Web.config and ensure the connection string points to your Access database path:

  <connectionStrings>
      <add name="ChatDBConnection" connectionString="Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=|DataDirectory|ChatDB.accdb;" providerName="System.Data.OleDb" />
  </connectionStrings>

4. Build and Run

• Restore NuGet packages if needed.
• Run the project (F5).
• Default page is Login.aspx.

Folder Structure

• DAL/ - Data access layer (e.g., DatabaseHelper.cs)
• Hubs/ - SignalR hub (ChatHub.cs)
• Pages/ - ASPX pages: Login, Dashboard, Chat, Profile
• App_Data/ - Access database file (ChatDB.accdb)
• Scripts/ - JavaScript libraries (SignalR, jQuery)

Known Issues / Limitations

• Works best in modern browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox)
• File sharing is basic and lacks preview/download progress

Additional Notes

• The project was developed as part of a Web-Based Technologies homework.
• Backend logic is built around SignalR events and Access SQL operations.
• Code is structured for readability and modularity to support future updates such as file previews, push notifications, and theme customization.