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Newbie Notes

Chat Guide, Part One

If you are new to Chat, you are probably as confused, as I was when I started. Where do I go? Do I need special software? What should I get? What is IRC? ICQ? Java?

There are some definitions and explanations in the FAQ and they helped some, but I was still confused. I went ahead and downloaded a bunch of stuff but couldn't figure out how to get it working. Finally, I just used the entrance to the Chatrooms and it worked. Since then I've learned how to install and configure the other software. I do use them but I am convinced that built-in entrances are greatly under-rated and that they are the best bet for beginners.

Is your browser Java capable?

If you have a recent version of either Internet Explorer or Netscape, the answer is almost certainly "yes". For a quick check, see if you can get in through the entrance on the site. If you get a message telling you that you need Java capability, it may only mean that it is not turned on in your browser.

Enabling Java in Netscape and Internet Explorer

For Netscape select Edit, then Preferences, then Advanced, and Enable Java and Enable Java Script. That should do it. Internet Explorer is under View, then Internet Options, then Advanced. You have to scroll down the list until you get to the Java portion. Check either Java Console enabled or (if you've downloaded the new virtual machine) JIT compiler for virtual machine enabled.

Checking it out

The chatrooms are open all the time so just pick a convenient time and try it out. If you are there with someone else, the first thing you will probably notice is that when you type something in and click Enter, the only thing you see is what you typed, yet other chatters' comments have their nicknames before their comments. Don't worry about it. They see your name before your entries because the server automatically adds it.

Take a minute or two to look at the screen carefully before clicking on the Connect button. This is a "do-as-I-say-not-as-I-did" suggestion that can save you a lot of time and confusion. When I first tried it, I got through the left side alright--entered my name in Nick[name], my email, and accepted the already entered room. Then I clicked on Connect without checking out the right side of the screen.

On the Right - the Options

Seven options are listed on the right side:

• Play sounds (checked)
• Sound on join
• Sound on notice (checked)
• Use colors (checked)
• Color Panel
• Show joins (checked)
• Popup msg windows (checked)

If I am expecting to meet someone, and I am there first, I will check Sound on join (if I remember) so that if I get distracted, I won't miss it when someone joins the channel.

Using colors

The other options I may change are the two involving colors. My aging monitor does not make it easy to read lighter colors. If I think a group is going to experiment, I may uncheck Use colors to more easily follow the content of the chat. Friends who are subject to migraine have told me that the colors can set one off. I usually recommend that anyone who has similar problems play it safe and uncheck Use colors before connecting.

On the other hand, or OTOH as used in chat, when I want to use colored text or background, I check Color Panel before connecting. Strictly speaking, this isn't necessary since you can bring up the Color Panel at any time with Control+K. But I find it more convenient to keep it in place rather than turning it on and off.

Some people prefer not to use the mouse. Using Control+K to bring up the panel can be a reminder of what numbers indicate which colors. If you just use one number, it will change the color of the text you type. If you use two numbers separated by a comma, the first number sets the text, or foreground color, and the second number changes the background color. For instance, 0,4 gives a red background with white text. Interesting, but not something I want to look at for very long.

For experimenting, whether with colors or other options, I prefer switching to a different channel. How to do that?

Changing Channels (rooms)

When I first started using chatrooms, I would quit, change the name of the Channel in the Connect Form and reconnect. Later, I noticed the information at the top of the screen tells you to type /join #channel-name. If the channel name you type already exists, you will go there. If not, the system will create a room and take you to it there. You can also click on the name of a channel in the left-hand list.

Ready-made or Do-it-yourself?

Fiction 99 has three reserved channels--Fiction-1, Fiction-2 and Fiction-3. WVU has one that has a number of different names, but it appears as the-other when you get there. The-other is set as invisible, which means that people who are just browsing around on the list of channels won't know it is there.

If you are experimenting or want privacy, creating your own channel gives you a little more control. The first person in a new channel will have op status and can use the /mode channel-name commands. For example to set the channel called #myroom to invisible, type /mode #myroom +s. To give another person op status, type /mode #myroom +o nick, substituting the person's nickname for nick.

Other useful commands

All commands start with the backslash (/).
/quit or /exit or /bye is the way out. You can tag on a message after them but it is not required.
/query nick followed by your message sends the message to only the person who's nick you type.
/nick newnick will change your nick to newnick. You substitute what you want to be called for newnick.
/ignore nick will block all messages from the person who's nick you list. You will not see them at all although other people on the channel will still see them.
/whois nick will give you some information about the person.
/topic newtopic will change the topic shown at the top of the screen and on the channel list for visible channels unless the mode is set so that only ops [chatroom operators] can change the topic.
/kick nick is only available if you are op (your name on the list at the right will have an @ symbol before it) and will kick the person out of the channel. Unless someone is really obnoxious and persists in trying to be disruptive, I suggest using /ignore instead.

Once you are comfortable with on-site chatrooms, you may notice some other chatters talking about watching, or being in more than one channel at a time. Other than running more than one browser simultaneously (which I do not recommend!), I do not know of any other way to watch with the on-site chatroom setup. There are several IRC programs that allow this as well as logging. I'll give some tips for finding them and getting started in a future column.

Oh yes, ICQ (the personal communication system) is not accessible through WVU chatrooms. Once I'm more familiar with the new 99a version, there will be a column about it. Until then, Happy Chatting!