Snak is a program that will let you participate in discussions in Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channels. IRC channels are virtual meeting rooms on the Internet, where people all over the world can have real-time conversations.
IRC consists of many different networks, most of which have servers (dedicated computers) all over the world accessible through the Internet. Individuals connect to a particular network via a nearby server with a client program like Snak.
An IRC network is simply a number of servers whose owners have decided to exchange IRC messages.
Most networks have thousands of channels, each focused on a location or subject, and anything that is typed into the channel will be seen by the other members. This makes it possible to have a real-time conversation with people all over the world.
You can also setup private channels without problems and use them to have private, real-time talks with friends, family or business associates.
The largest of the IRC networks often have as many as 35.000 participants and almost anyone can find a channel that talks about a topic that is of interest to that particular person. It is estimated that at any given time more than 80.000 people are using IRC.
About version 4.6.3
This version is available in carbonized and regular flavors. It includes a fix for a crash if a DCC chat window was closed by the other end while Snak was in the background, corrects a problem with text formatting and prevents windows from being opened outside the visible area.
The Carbon build of the program have a number of known issues when running under OS X, mostly redraw problems that will be rectified in the next version. Please do not report visual problems to me at this point.
Because OS X has a built in ident server, the integrated Snak ident server is deactived on OS X.
Ident is a mechanism that the IRC server usually requires be accessible on your machine for you to connect.
By default the built in OS X Ident server is turned off, so you will need to turn it on to succesfully use IRC. This can't be done automatically but AppleScripts are included in this release to make it easier.
This release also fixes some minor bugs, involving Snak forgetting that it has been registered, and not updating various pieces on banlist information.
Version 4.6 provides support for NAT routers, multiple preference files for the case that multiple people use the program and more precise control of what is spoken, and from what channels. The fully updated server list is read from an external file which can be easily updated or replaced. AppleScript is improved with more event handlers and properties.
A full list of the changes can be found in the Version History chapter of the manual and on the website at http://www.snak.com/SnakHistory.html
Preserving the contents of your Addressbook
You can transfer the contents of your address book into Snak 4.6 by running both versions side by side, and opening both the address books. Then simply drag each person from the old address book into the new one.
Important
The server list is stored in the the file "servers.ini" in the script folder. Therefore do not simply replace the entire folder or throw it out. If you lose the file you can download a fresh, updated copy from "http://www.mirc.co.uk/servers.ini"
About Snak
Snak comes with the powerful PurePak script package written in the ircII scripting language which provides many useful functions to the serious IRC'er as well as the casual user. New in this version is also a number of useful and illustrative AppleScripts. The two script systems can be used side by side and complements each other very well.
Snak uses the fully updated server list from the PC mIRC client. The list is used by kind permission from the author Khaled Mardam-Bey and Tjerk Vonck.
Snak supports almost all of the ircII scripting language, with the exception of keybindings, so the inclusion of PurePak provides very valuable capabilities to Snak. Please see the Scripting chapter in the manual for a complete list of supported and unsupported language features.
Snak is being heavily developed and new features are added frequently due to user demand. If you have a cool and useful feature you would like to see in this IRC client, please drop me a line with feedback, bug reports or feature requests at "kents@snak.com".
My website is at "http://www.snak.com" where you can always get the latest versions.
How to Purchase Snak
Snak is shareware which means that you may freely use and evaluate it for 30 days at no charge. If you decide to keep using the program after 30 days you need to buy it and pay the $20 registration fee.
The fastest way to buy the program is to use the secure webserver that is available from my website at "http://www.snak.com". If you want to pay using mail, fax or email you can also use the Register program that comes in the package. It supports payments with Check, Cash, Credit Card and Money Order to the Kagi Shareware payment service.
You can even buy by telephone by calling the Kagi Shareware payment service at +1 (510) 658-5244 to place an order. They charge a $5 fee for telephone orders.
If you like the program, you are encouraged to buy it, as the show of support and appreciation will allow me to spend even more time working on the program.
You are also encouraged to tell others about Snak if you like the program.
You are welcome to upload this version of Snak whereever you want, but you must keep it as a package - ie. the program, the Register program, this read me file and the manual. If you want to include it on a CD, please ask me for permission first.
Features
Less window clutter than other IRC clients...!
A dedicated, resizeable input field per channel
Multi connections and multi channels
Integrated /Notify support
Connection records can specify multiple servers, which allows the program to try each server until it finds one that will connect.
Built-in Address Book to store information snippets
Customizable menus
Font and background color can be set for each individual channel
Manual and Automatic logging
International character sets are supported
Command-clicking URLs to open them is supported
Fully searchable channel list and channel text
Guardian feature lets parents limit what channels a child can use
Fully customizable multi line aliases
Two powerful scripting languages - ircII and AppleScript
Identd support
File transfer and chatting via DCC
About the name
Snak is the Danish word for Chat. Why did I choose "Snak" . . . . ? I'm Danish :-)
I normally pronounce it more or less like "Snack"
Getting Started
When you first launch Snak, the setup assistant will guide you through the initial setup. Once that simple process is done, it will display a welcome screen to remind you Snak is distributed as shareware which means that you will have to pay for it if you decide to keep using it after the 30 day free trial period.
Once you close the welcome window, the connections window comes up. From this window you can easily connect to the networks and join the IRC channels.
The Connections window will initially contain 5 default connection profiles for the most pouplar networks. In front of each connection record is an icon that shows the status of the connection. If it is red then the connection is not open yet. Once you connect, the icon will become green.
A connection profile contains nickname, startup action and the server to connect to and serves as instructions to Snak about what to do to get on a particular network. The DALNet profile contains instructions to connect you to one of the largest of the major IRC networks. Select it in the list and press connect.
Then a console window is shown and the program attempts to open a connection to the server.
Each server is a part of a particular network, so once connected to the server you are connected to the entire network. In the Connection window you can see the status icon change color, and when it is green you are successfully connected and you can join channels.
If you didn't specify a startup action in the connection record (like /join #macintosh or similar) you can use the File/Join menu to open a window where you can enter the name of the desired channel. In the window you can also create a list of favorite channels by typing in the name and pressing the Add button. After that you can just double click on the channel name. Some channels of general interest has been added as a default.
Alternatively you can use the input field in the console window or the connection window to type "/join #macintosh" (without the quotes).
Then the channel window comes up and you will notice the user list to the right of the main text field, as well as the input field below it. Both the input field and the user list are fully resizeable. The input field will adjust its size automatically if you type more than will fit on a line.
You can double click on a nickname in the user list to have it added to the input line.
General Overview
The tools menu is intended for functions that operate on selections in the user list. The $E variable returns the nick of the first selected user and is used in functions like Whois.
If you want to change or inspect the mode of the channel, you can open the channel info window with Edit/Channel Settings, or click in the topic field of the channel window. That will bring up a window where you can set the mode of the channel and change the topic.
Additionally you can choose the font and background color for that particular window using the channel settings item in the Edit menu.
The Preference window is dynamic - you do not need to save changes for them to be active. Just make the change and see it take effect immediately.
In the Server list you can edit, delete and add servers. You can store a comment with each server, and you can set timeout and the port to use.
The Guardian panel is intended for parents that want to limit the channels that their children can access. It is password protected, and once you enter a password in the field you will have to provide it to access the panel. Snak intentionally only asks for the password once per session. You can selectively turn each Guardian feature on and off. If you have provided the supervisor password, the Guardian is inactive, but unless that is the case you can specify that channels whose name contains certain words are off limits. The "leave channel on word" will force the user out of the channel if certain words are uttered. All Guardian features can be overridden with the supervisor password
In the Channel panel you can specify what channel actions you want displayed, and choose the default font that will be used for new channel windows.
In the Color panel you can select a particular color for each type of messages in the channel.
In the DCC panel you can specify a list if nicks that you grant permission to automatically set up a DCC connection to you - either for file transfer or chat.
In the Personal panel you can define a default quit message and an USERINFO reply.
The General panel is where you set up what Snak should do on certain actions like Kicks and Invites.
In the Sounds panel you can turn individual sounds on and off.
In the Logging Panel you control the Automatic logging feature. This feature can automatically keep a continous log of all the channels that you visit. It creates a folder for each of your connection records and creates log files inside that folder. You can select to use one log file per channel, or start a new log file every time you koin the channel.
Snak contains an address book that is intended to store the snippets of information that you come across as you IRC. Someones real name, email address, favorite channel. . . .
To access the address book use the Windows/Address book menu. That brings up the address book window. Like the preference window, the address book window is dynamic and you do not need to save changes to preserve them. To store information just start filling out the fields. The most important and the only required field is the nick. As soon as you select another record, make a new record or close the window the program saves the changes.
If you want to see a channel listing, use the File/List Channels menu. That brings up the List channels window where you can set up criteria for the listing. You can specify that you want to see channels containing certain words but not others. You can also specify that you want to see channels with at least 10 users but not more that 20. .
Pressing OK will send the command off to the server. Be advised that on some servers, the List command will result in so much data being sent to you that the server will disconnect you . . .
As soon as the server responds Snak will begin filtering the information based on the criteria that you specified. Once a valid channel is found, Snak will open a Channel List window and display the channel name and information. When the server is done listing the channels Snak will enable the Save button in the Channel list window and you can save the listing to a file. The Channel list window supports a Find and Find Again function that will let you search the found channels.
You can create multiple preset records and open multiple connections simultaneously, but please keep in mind that some servers consider that "cloning" and will ban you if you overdo it.
* No Warranty
KENT SORENSEN PROVIDES Snak AS IS, WITHOUT ANY WARRENTY OR PROMISE OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT. KENT SORENSEN DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY OF ANY KIND FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM THE USE OF Snak, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT OR SPECIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, EVEN IF KENT SORENSEN IS AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. KENT SORENSEN MAKES NO WARRENTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRENTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Legal actions involving this products are to take place in the courts of Denmark, Århus Amt.
Snak IRC Client Entire work except WASTE text engine and SmartScroll library copyright 1996 - 2001 by Kent Sorensen All Rights Reserved
