code: public int decodeType (String localtype)
      {
          if (ChatCodes.USER_CHAT_TYPE.equals(localtype)) {
              return TELL;
          } else if (ChatCodes.PLACE_CHAT_TYPE.equals(localtype)) {
              return PLACE;
          } else {
              return 0;
          }
      }
docs: Decodes the main chat type given the supplied localtype provided by the chat system.