------------------------------------------------------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * Ensor's IRC Newbie Information Guide Thing * * * * * * * * * ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Document was last updated 12/04/93. Created/maintained by: Ensor (dholmes@rahul.net) The latest version of this guide can be obtained by anonymous ftp from ftp.rahul.net as /pub/dholmes/irc-info.txt. You can compare the above date to the date of the file to determine whether your version is current. This is just a little document to save you and me a lot of repetitive typing (well, ok, really just me). It is not intended to replace the IRC FAQ or the help files, so you should probably read those as well. This is just a compilation of the most common questions I (for some reason) get, in the most common terms. Please keep in mind that not all clients implement all features, and more detailed information on these topics can be found in the help files or the FAQ. "The stuff in parentheses" -------------------------- This is what is generally referred to as your realname or ircname. You can't normally change this without exiting irc first. If you're on a unix client using csh, you can change it by typing: setenv IRCNAME "This is my name" at your unix command prompt. For sh and ksh, I've heard you can change it with: IRCNAME='' ; export IRCNAME If you're using any other type of system, well, I can't really help you specifically. "That * thingy"/"That action thing"/"How do I emote?" ----------------------------------------------------- Actions are produced by the /me command, for most people. Example: /me yawns in boredom. produces: * Ensor yawns in boredom. "Emoting" is really a different matter--see the next topic. "What does ;) mean?" -------------------- This is sometimes called an emoticon. Tilt your head 90 degrees to the left and look at it again; it's a wink. You can also smile [:)], frown [:(], grin in an evil manner [>:)], be angry [>:(], or whatever. Use your imagination. "Where can I find some people?" ------------------------------- Type "/list -min 10". "Who are these people with the *'s around their names?" ------------------------------------------------------- Someone is messaging you. Only you can see these messages. If you see: *Ensor* Hello, how on earth did you end up here? you can respond by typing: /msg Ensor I have no idea. "What's that guy doing?" ------------------------ Mode changes affect characteristics of a channel or person. Channel operators (people with a @ next to their names) can make mode changes to a channel. This is usually to your benefit (one way or the other). Type "/help mode" for more specific information. "Bot? What's a bot?" --------------------- A bot is a program that runs on IRC. "Why is it here?" ----------------- Who knows? "What does it do?" ------------------ Well, that depends what it was designed to do. Usually they op people, make weird comments, and sometimes provide information. Try messaging one with the word "help". Maybe it will tell you itself. "How do I write one?" --------------------- There is no short answer. (How do you write an address book program?) Read the IRC client help files. Then, depending what you want it to do, maybe you should read RFC1459, _The C Programming Language_, some unix man pages, and a box of Froot Loops. "How can I join more than one channel?" --------------------------------------- Type "/set novice off", then join the channels you want. Then avoid typing any cryptic "/on" commands that someone may tell you to type. If you want to have each channel in a different area of the screen, type "/help window"; there are several subcommands for manipulating the screen in this way. Having set novice off, it would benefit you to read "/help set novice" and "/help set exec_protection" (at the very least) as well. "How did you change the color?" ------------------------------- A couple of different types of highlighting are available; many terminal emulators displays these as different colors. You can make something bold by typing ^V (control-V) around it (may be ^B on some terminals) or underlined with ^- (control-minus, may display as ^_). "How do I make a comment when I leave?" --------------------------------------- When you're ready to exit IRC (yeah, right), you can type "/bye 3 A.M. already?" to exit and leave a comment to the people left on your channels. You will not see the comment since your program will exit by the time it is sent. I know of know way to do the same when just leaving a channel. Nickname Information (Too many questions to list) ------------------------------------------------- Your nickname is the name by which you will be known on IRC. You can change it by typing "/nick NotNewbie" (limited to nine characters). If you choose a nickname that someone else uses, you may get a notice from NickServ and should probably choose something else. You can also use NickServ to register your nickname if nobody else has already. Type "/msg nickserv@service.de help" to get information on NickServ's commands. If you see something like "*** nickserv@service.de: No such nick/channel", then NickServ is temporarily off-line; try again later. "Where did everyone go?" ------------------------ Servers occasionally (or frequently, depending on the phase of the moon) lose their links with each other (known as a "netsplit"). If you see several people sign off at once with the same cryptic reason, this has probably happened. They will probably return shortly when the affected servers figure out what's going on. Probably the most confusing aspect of this phenomenon is that the other group sees happening to you exactly what you see happening to them. It's all a matter of your net.point-of-view. "DCC???" -------- You may have received this file by DCC (using a /dcc command). DCC is a method you can use within IRC to transfer files (among other things). DCC has several subcommands; type "/help dcc" for more information. "Hey, what did I do wrong?" --------------------------- A couple of tips: * Don't ask for ops in a channel where you're new. This will probably just get you kicked. The folks there don't know who you are and have no reason to think you're up to any good if you're asking for ops out of the blue. If you really need ops, make up a new channel name and join it. * Don't just appear on a channel and say "I hate bots." This will probably also get you kicked. If you're a newbie (why else would you read this?), you can't possibly know what every bot on IRC does, so you can't possibly hate them all. Some of them are considered useful and/or fun by those who coexist with them. * It is considered bad form (read: you will be kicked and maybe banned) to use another's nickname to try to fool others or bots on a channel. It's one thing to change nicks briefly to make a humorous point, but another to pose as someone else to try to obtain certain information or priveleges. "This is rubbish. Where can I get some real answers?" ------------------------------------------------------ Read the help files (type "/help"). Read the FAQ. Join #irchelp or #answers. Ask your friends. Ask your enemies. Ask me, but you'll probably just get more of the same. ;)