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Text File | 1992-12-06 | 28KB | 677 lines

--- Amiga IRC --- (DNET Version) November 25, 1992 by Rick Kent Internet: rkent@sparc1.csubak.edu AOL: RickK32 INTRODUCTION ------------ What is IRC? IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat. The original IRC was designed under Unix for use on the Internet. It allows people from all over the world to join in live discussion groups and talk to each other in a multi-user chat system. Since its conception, the popularity of IRC has grown tremendously. At present, there are usually hundreds of people online in IRC with well over a hundred live discussion groups. Although originally designed under Unix, there are now IRC clients written for other platforms as well such as the PC and Macintosh, but until now there was no client package for the Amiga. WHAT DO I NEED TO RUN IRC? -------------------------- To run this IRC client package you must have the following: - Workbench 2.0 (Version 37 or higher) - DNET Software (Originally designed by Matt Dillon): DNET is a serial network communications protocol which allows you to run a network connection between two Amiga's or an Amiga and a Unix station (similar to SLIP but less complex). - A Unix shell account which has direct access to the Internet (The Unix version of DNET must be installed on this machine). - The DNET INTERLINK module (included). - reqtools.library (included). Note: Reqtools is Copyright (c) Nico Francois. WHY DO I NEED DNET? ------------------- In order to connect to an IRC server machine on the Internet you must have some sort of Internet access. In a standard setup, to use IRC you would have to have your PC, Mac, Amiga, or whatever connected directly into the Internet. The number of Amiga machines with this kind of direct access is extrememely low. This is where DNET comes in. DNET allows you to start up a serial network connection between your Amiga and a Unix machine. If the Unix machine you connect to is on the Internet, then it becomes possible to access Internet services. Once the DNET INTERLINK module is installed on both the Amiga and Unix machine, then your Amiga has a psuedo-connection to the Internet. Properly written DNET clients can then open a BSD socket-like connection to any site on the Internet. Thus, the Amiga IRC client software simply opens a socket connection directly to an IRC server machine (of your choice) on the Internet. Note: Although this version requires DNET, there is a chance that I may design another version in the future that will use a standard TCP/IP connection. At this time however, I do not have access to an Amiga that is directly connected into the internet via TCP/IP. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS: -------------------------- These instructions assume that you have already properly installed (and have working) the DNET software on both your Amiga and the Unix machine that you connect to. If not, then you need to do this FIRST! DNET INTERLINK MODULE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS (UNIX SIDE) ----------------------------------------------------------- In order for the Amiga IRC client to function, you must install the DNET Interlink module which is a specially designed DNET server which extends socket-like connections from a Unix machine up to the Amiga client. Thus, this enables Amiga DNET clients to directly connect to servers on the Internet. The Interlink module is installed on the Unix side. The final server executable should be placed in the directory where you're other servers reside. To install the Interlink module: - Copy or upload the file "interlink.tar" included with this archive to the Unix machine where your shell account resides. To extract the files from the "unix.tar" file, type "tar xvf interlink.tar". - Read the "interlink.doc" file included within the "interlink.tar" file for further installation instructions. AMIGA IRC INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS (AMIGA SIDE) ----------------------------------- Installation on the Amiga side is simple. No modification to the DNET software is required. - If you do not already have a copy of reqtools.library in your libs directory then place a copy of the reqtools.library included with this archive in the "libs" directory of your boot drive (or disk). You can do this manually or by double clicking on the provided "Install-Reqtools" icon. - The Amiga IRC client "IRC" can be placed wherever you like. It is just a standard Amiga executable. IRC should now be installed. You may want to copy IRC to your hard drive or other convient place if you haven't already. The location does not matter. AMIGA IRC OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS -------------------------------- To run the IRC software (once installed), simply run the IRC program. It can be run either from Workbench or from the CLI. IRC CONFIGURATION OPTIONS (Running IRC for the First Time) ---------------------------------------------------------- The first thing you will need to do when you run IRC for the first time is to change the configuration options that tell Amiga IRC which server site to use, what your default nickname should be, etc. To do this, select "Configuration..." from the IRC Project menu. The following items should be changed to reflect your particular setup: IRC Server: This is one of the most important options in your configuration. Enter the internet address of the IRC server you wish to use here. Examples of server addresses are "bradenville.andrew.cmu.edu", "sniper.msc.edu", "hermes.tcad.ee.ufl.edu", "doo.cheme.cmu.edu", etc. To find a suitable IRC server in your area you can scan through the included file of IRC server sites, consult someone who is knowledgeable with IRC, or read through the messages in the Usenet Newsgroup "alt.irc". Many IRC server sites are publicly accessible, while others are private and require special authorization. Port: This is the port number that the IRC client connects to at the server site. Normally this should never be changed and should be 6667. Nickname: This is the default nickname that will be used to identify you while on IRC. This nickname can not exceed 9 characters. Examples of nicknames are "Wacky", "Jemini", "guardian", etc. There are also restrictions to the characters that can be included in a nickname (eg. Most punctuation can not be used). If you attempt to use a nickname that someone else is currently using then when you log in the server will not allow you to do anything until you select another nickname. Also, there is a database of reserved nick names (called NickServ) that will notify you if you try to use the nickname of someone who is not logged in, but has a reserved nickname. To avoid confusion you should select a different nickname. Unfortunately, this database has grown to be ridiculously large and finding a unique nickname is not as easy as it used to be. Hopefully the NickServ operators will eventually design a purge mechanism into the system to help relieve the problem. Real Name: This should be obvious. Place your real name here. This allows other IRC members to see who you are. Login ID: This should be the login ID you use to log into your shell account on your Unix machine. The login ID and host name form your internet email address and allows other members to send you email. Host Name: This is the internet address of the Unix machine where your shell account resides. If you do not know this address, ask your system administrator. Window Height & Width: You can place whatever reasonable values you like here. These are the values that IRC will use as its default window size parameters. Once you have entered the correct information, you can click on the SAVE button to save these options to the irc configuration file. This file is named "irc.config" and will be created in the "s" directory of your boot disk. Note: The status of the Ignore options (located on the "Options" menu, are saved as well. In order for the new changes to take effect, you will need to quit from IRC and run it again. Upon startup, the Amiga IRC client will attempt to connect to the IRC server stored in the configuration file. MENU OPTIONS ------------ Project Menu ------------ Select Server: This options allows you to switch servers while IRC is online. Just enter the address of the new server you wish to connect to. Note: Occaisonally when switching servers you will get the message that your nickname is in use. This happens because when you log off one server it can take up to 10 seconds or more sometimes before all the IRC around the world get notified that you logged off. Thus, if this happens, simply wait about 10 or 15 seconds and try using your nickname again. Capture File: This option allows you to turn on file capturing. All IRC output is then sent to a capture file as well as the display window. You also have the ability of appending to an already existing file. Printer: This option allows you to turn output to the printer on and off. You are asked for the device to use (PRT: is the default). HiLite List: This option brings up the HiLite window. This window shows you a list of all the users whose output you wish to have shown hilited from the rest. You can add and remove members to be hilited from this window. Channel Menu ------------ List: This option brings up the channel list window. This window will display all the active channels on IRC for that moment in time. From this list you can then select a channel to join. In addition you can view the members on a channel, create a new channel, sort the list of channels, or re-read the list which will read in a fresh copy of the channel list. Join: This option allows you to join a channel. Once you enter a channel name, you will be placed in that channel if possible. If you wish to create a new channel, simply type the new channel name here and you will be entered into a new channel with that name and you will be the channel operator. Leave: Selecting this option causes you to leave the current channel. Invite: This option allows you to invite another member who is on IRC to your current channel. Topic: This option allows you to change the topic of the current channel if you have the privelege to do so. Attributes: This option brings up the channel attributes window which display the characteristics of that channel. Please note: you must be a channel operator in order to change these attributes. Members: This option brings up the member window which lists all the members on the current channel. From this window you can hilite members, get information on members, or perform operator functions like kick, make operator, remove operator, ban, etc. Note: Operator functions require you to be a channel operator. Bans: This option brings up the ban list window. The list displays the bans that are in place for that channel. Note: You must be a channel operator to view or change this list. To ban a member from the channel, you can select <add> and then type that member's nickname. You can also use special pattern matches to ban a member by login id or host machine. Options Menu ------------ Clear Window: This option simply clears the display window. Who Is / Find: This option allows you get information about someone who is online. Who Was: This option allows you to get information about someone who was recently online. This command is usefull if you want to find the email address of someone who just logged off. Nickname: This option allows you to change your nickname. Conversation: Selecting this option allows you to carry on a private conversation with one or more members without having to type "/msg" every time. Just enter the member or members seperated by commas. Then whenever you type a line of text, it will be sent as a "/msg" to each of the users you selected. Ignore: From this menu option you can select certain things you wish to be ignored. The most useful of these is the "Ignore Mode Changes" option. On some channels, there may be a large number of mode changes occurring that clutter the display and cause it to scroll more quickly. To ignore these just select ignore Mode Changes. You also have the ability of ignoring IRC notices, notes, invitations by other users, private messages, or all public messages to a channel. SUPPORTED IRC KEYBOARD COMMANDS ------------------------------- For those of you who have already used some other version of IRC and are familiar with many of the slash commands, you will find that many of these commands are available in this Amiga client as well. The following list of keyboard commands (which can be used by typing the command preceded by a slash in the string gadget in the main view window) are supported: JOIN - Join a channel PART - Leave current channel LEAVE - same as PART MSG - Send a private message to someone QUERY - Sends everything you type as a MSG to another user QUIT - Quit IRC HELP - Brings up internal help ME - Send an atmosphere message to channel (action command) NICK - Change your nickname MODE - Change channel mode options WHO - Display a single line of information about a member online WHOIS - Display information about a member who is online WHOWAS - Display information about a member who was recently online TOPIC - Set/change the topic of conversation of the current channel KICK - Kick someone off a channel (you must be a channel operator) BAN - Ban someone from the channel (if you are a channel operator) LIST - List names of all channels NAMES - Show names of members on a particular channel INVITE - Invite someone to your channel AWAY - Display a message stating that you're away whenever someone sends you a private message SERVER - Change servers VERSION - Display server version TIME - Display current server time ADMIN - Display server administrative information INFO - Display server information about IRC MOTD - Display message of the day SUMMON - Summon someone on to IRC DESCRIPTION OF IRC KEYBOARD COMMANDS ------------------------------------ A more complete description of the above IRC keyboard commands follows: JOIN - Join a channel Usage: JOIN <channel> Changes your current channel to the channel specified. Channel names begin with a # and may contain any character except space, carriage return, null and line feed. For example: #My_Channel is a valid channel name. Joining a channel will cause you to leave your previous channel. PART - Leave current channel LEAVE - same as PART Usage: PART <channel> This command will cause you to leave the current channel you are on. MSG - Send a private message to someone Usage: MSG <nicknames|<channel>|=nick|@user|-CHANNEL <nickname>> <text of message> Sends a private message to the nicknames or list of nicknames specified. A list of nicknames should by separated by commas (no spaces). Two special case nicknames are defined. If the nickname is "," (a comma), the message is sent to the last person who sent you a /MSG. If the nickname is "." (a period), the message is send to the last person to whom you send a message. The second form allows you to specify a channel number or channel name to which to send the message. The message will go to everyone on that channel. The last form is similar to the second except that you can specify the channel to send a message to by giving the nickname of one to the people on the channel. IRCII will look up the proper channel number or name and send the message. * There is also a use of wildcards for operators. * For example : /msg $*.edu will address all users having .edu * in their serverinfo. * /msg #*.edu will address all users having .edu * at the end of their host name. QUERY - Sends everything you type as a MSG to another user Usage: QUERY [nicknames] Starts a private conversation with [nicknames]. All text you type that would normally be sent to your channel now goes to [nicknames] in the form of MSGs. To cancel a private conversation, use QUERY with no arguments. QUIT - Quit IRC Usage: QUIT [<reason>] Quits your IRC session. If a reason is supplied, it is displayed to other people on your channels. HELP - Brings up internal help ME - Send an atmosphere message to channel (action command) Usage: /ME <action description> This command can be used to send a description of what you are doing or how you are feeling or just about anything concerning you, to the current channel or query. For example, if your nickname is Lynx, then when you type: /ME opens up the fridge. the following line will appear to all members on the current channel: Lynx opens up the fridge. It is absolutely good style to not forget the period at the end! This command makes use of CTCP and is not understood by all clients. If you get an error message, your description has not arrived properly. MODE - Change channel mode options Note: This option is rather complex. Many of these options can be changed much more easily simply by selecting "Attributes" from the "Channel" menu. Usage: MODE <channel> [+|-]<modechars> <parameters> MODE <channel> [+|-]b [nick][!user][@host] MODE <nick> [+|-]<umodechars> Mode command is quite complicated and it allows channel operators to change channel mode, or any user to change their personal mode. For a channel mode, <modechars> is one of the following: m - channel is moderated (only channel operators talk) s - channel is secret p - channel is private l <number> - channel is limited, where <number> is the maximum number of users allowed t - topic limits, only the channel operators may change it a - channel is anonymous o <nick> - Makes <nick> a channel operator i - channel is invite only n - No MSGs to the channel are allowed A + or - sign determines whether the specified mode should be added or deleted. The second form of the MODE command allows you to ban somebody from a channel. This is done by specifying a sting of the form nick!user@host. For example: /MODE #MyChannel +b *!*@gus.* bans everybody from the channel who is on IRC from any machine whose name is gus. /MODE #MyChannel +b netw1z bans anybody using the nickname netw1z. /MODE #MyChannel +b *!merklin@* bans anybody whose user name is merklin. /MODE #MyChannel +b jerk!tug@boat.edu bans the user tug@boat.edu from the channel whenever he is using the nickname "jerk". You can list the bans in effect on a channel with /MODE Chan +b /MODE #MyCHannel +b NOTE: Attempting to avoid a ban placed on you may result in forcible removal from IRC. The third form of the MODE command allows you to modify your personal parameters. You can precede any combination of the following with + or - (+to switch that mode on, - to switch it off). w - Receive WALLOPS (messages directed at all operators. see WALLOPS. s - Receive server notices. This includes KILL notices and notices about what is happening with links to the local server. i - Render yourself invisible. This prevents you from being seen in WHO and WHOIS information, unless somebody specifies your exact nickkname with WHOIS. NICK - Change your nickname Usage: NICK <nickname> Changes your nickname to whatever you like. The nickname may be at most 9 characters. If you specify a nickname that is already in use, you will be notified and will need to enter a new nickname. WHO - Display a single line of information about the desired members Usage: WHO [wildcard expression] Gives a listing of the users on irc. If no flags are specified, the wildcard expression you supply will match any field returned by WHO. However, if the wildcard expression is "*" (an asterisk), the users on the current channel are shown. If the expression is 0, all users on irc are shown. For example, to display a list of all the members on channel #hottub type "/who #hottub". The switches may be abbreviated unambiguously. All matching of usernames, hostnames, and servernames may contain wildcards (*). Wildcards in the form "*.edu" are also correctly recognized by the IRC server (so there's no need for ircII to do that). WHOIS - Display information about a member who is online Usage: WHOIS <nickname> WHOIS <nick1>,<nick2> [...] WHOIS <server> <nickname>[,<nick2>...] Shows more detailed information about the nickname specified. This info includes the users name, host, server, "real" name, and away message. As you can see in the second line you can use /whois on multiple nicknames. The third line demonstrates how you can send the /whois request to a distant server. If you /whois a person on his server you will receive extra info about his idle time. WHOWAS - Display information about a member who was recently online Usage: WHOWAS <nickname> Shows information about who used the given nickname last, even if no one is currently using it. TOPIC - Set/change the topic of conversation of the current channel Usage: TOPIC <topic for channel> Changes the topic of the current channel. KICK - Kick someone off a channel (you must be a channel operator) Usage: KICK <channel> <user> Kicks the specified user off a given channel. Only channel operators are privileged to use this command. Channel operator privileges can be given to other users of channel by the command: /MODE <channel> +o <user> and taken away by command /MODE <channel> -o <user> BAN - Ban someone from the channel (if you are a channel operator) Usage: BAN <nick> This command will ban the specified user from the current channel. LIST - List names of all channels Usage: LIST This command simply brings up the channel list window where you can view the current list of channels, create a new channel, or join an existing one. NAMES - Show names of members on a particular channel Usage: NAMES [channel] Shows the nicknames of all users on the specified channel. Only matching channels are shown (the channel may contain wildcards). INVITE - Invite someone to your channel Usage: INVITE <nickname> [channel] Invites another user to a channel. If no channel is specifed, your current channel is used. AWAY - Display a message stating that you're away whenever someone sends you a private message Usage: AWAY [away message] Marks you as "away". Whenever someone sends you a MSG or a does a WHOIS on you, they automatically see whatever message you set. While you are away, all messages you receive will be timestamped. Using AWAY with no parameters marks you as no longer being away. SERVER - Change servers Usage: SERVER [server] This command allows you to switch to a different irc server. You will be logged off the server you are currently on, and logged into the new server if possible. VERSION - Display server version Usage: VERSION [server] Shows the IRCII version number and the version number of the server specifed. If no server name is specifed, the version of your current server is shown. TIME - Display current server time Usage: TIME [server] Shows the current time of day and date. If a server is specified, the time of day and date are reported from that server. DATE and TIME are identical. ADMIN - Display server administrative information Usage: ADMIN [server] Displays the administrative details about the given server. If no server is specified, the server you are connected to is used. INFO - Display server information about IRC Usage: INFO Shows information about the original IRC creators. MOTD - Display message of the day Usage: MOTD [server] Gives the message-of-the-day for the named server. If no server is given, your server is used. SUMMON - Summon someone on to IRC Usage: SUMMON <userid>[@server] Summons a user to irc. The user currently must be logged into the server machine for this to function. POSSIBLE FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS ---------------------------- - Multiple Channel Support: With this enhancement you will be able to have more than one channel window open and thus can be talking on several channels simultaneously. - An AREXX port: This will allow other programs and scripts to get input and send output to IRC. Thus, it will possible to program specialized "bots" and other interesting scripts via AREXX. - A custom screen option. This would allow you to keep all the IRC windows on a separate screen and off the workbench screen. - Support for DCC commands. - Sound sample triggering: With this enhancement you will be able to trigger sound samples to be played back like users can do on America Online. KNOWN BUGS ---------- Although not a critical bug, you can not currently select menu options by using the keyboard equivalents. The reason for this is that as long as the string gadget in the main display window remains active, there is no way to select menu options. Unfortunately, to remain useful, this gadget must remain active at all times so that you don't have to keep clicking into it to reactivate it.