Using mIRC

mIRC is a Windows client for the Internet Relay Chat (IRC) network. It allows Internet users to chat electronically with each other in a group or channel using IRC servers.

Notice: mIRC is shareware and may be freely distributed for evaluation purposes. If you decide to keep and use the program, you must send payment directly to the shareware author.

Launching and Configuring mIRC

Follow these steps to launch and configure mIRC

Step	Action
1	Click the IRC icon on the PipeLine + Access Panel to execute mIRC. A shareware notice will appear. After you've read the information presented in the window, close the window to continue..
2	At the mIRC Setup window, the IRC Servers tab should already be selected. Select MindSpring's IRC Server from the list of servers. Or, you can select a different server from the list. Enter your user information: Real Name: Type your full name. E-Mail: Type your email address. Nickname: This is the name people will know you by in IRC. IRC servers allow only one person at a time to use a particular nickname. Alternate: Type another nickname you'd like to be known by in case your first choice is taken.
3	When you've filled out the required fields, click Connect! to connect to the IRC server you have chosen.

Getting Started

The following sections explain how to use IRC as well as how to:

Connect to an IRC server

Join a chat channel

Connecting to an IRC Server and Joining an IRC Channel

Follow these steps to connect to an IRC and join an IRC channel

Step	Action
1	Choose Connect from the File menu. The message of the day appears.
2	A window titled mIRC Channels Folder will appear. This window contains a list of various IRC channels. This window only contains a few sample IRC channels to pick from. You may select a channel from this list and click Join, or click OK to go back to the Status window to list all channels on the server. If you've opted to return to the Status window, then do one of the following: Type `/list` in the Status window entry box to see all the channels that your server sees. This may take a while. A list of channels appears. Double-click any channel of interest. Type `/join #chat` to join the #chat channel. Channels on IRC always begin with the '#' character.
3	Once in the channel, type anything you want. It is common courtesy to simply type`Hello all` to see if anyone is there and friendly. You can also join another channel or create your own. To leave a channel, type /leave or /part or close the channel's window.
4	Once you find a channel you like to visit, you can join it by either double-clicking the channel listing in the window, or type `/join` and the channel name. All IRC channels start with the character #, and you must include this as part of its name. You can try #mindspring and see if anyone is there.

IRC Server Connectivity

The following is a list of some IRC servers you can connect to using mIRC:

irc.mindspring.com

irc.colorado.edu

irc.law.emory.edu

mickey.cc.utexas.edu

minnie.cc.utexas.edu

tramp.cc.utexas.edu

irc-2.mit.edu

irc.cerf.net

irc.sdsc.edu

irc.ucsd.edu

Just as in the newsgroups, IRC has developed its own way of doing things. Our best advice to you is to simply join a few channels and see how people do things. You can't hurt anything by watching. If you don't understand a command, try the help file in mIRC. If you still don't understand something, ask politely.

Unlike the online services, in IRC you can be involved in multiple rooms at the same times. If one channel seems to be lacking in conversation, you can join another channel while monitoring the previous channel.

IRC also allows private conversations, and the exchange of files directly between two users. There are also automated responders called bots in many channels.

Finding Help and Reference Information