Subject: MJRB-35 >> THE IRC CLIENT << MJRB-35 >> THE IRC CLIENT << ************************************************************* OVERVIEW -- What is IRC? -- Setting up an IRC client. -- Okay, let's connect. -- Final comments. ************************************************************* IRC, the Internet Relay Chat, the resource of the Internet that allows talking with others live and interactively. Make new friends, find information, get help on any topic; it's all there on IRC. This lesson will get you going into another realm of the Internet. Hours will be spent here as you explore channels and topics and meet people and make friends. Is IRC just a fun thing? Yes, and No. Yes, it's a lot of fun. It's like the days when I was into CB radio. To talk to someone over the air, to meet new people, to have fun, to pass time and to exchange information. No, it isn't only just fun. You have a question about computers? Someone on IRC certainly has the answer. Your looking for a particular file? Someone on IRC most likely has that file and may send it to you directly. You want to talk with folks who have the same interest as do you? Well, LIST will surely reveal at least one channel where this interest group exists. So, we explore IRC and perhaps some interactive dialogs. We may discuss these lessons and share our experiences. So, let s get IRC up and running. ************************************************************* SETTING UP AN IRC CLIENT ************************************************************* **NOTE** THE CURRENT mIRC Version is a shareware program and is version 4.72. However, this lesson will continue to provide instruction on the basics for configuring the IRC Client. You are probably quite skilled now in setting up clients. The file we are using is: mIRC364.zip However, any mirc3xx.zip file will do. There are other IRC clients out there but mIRC is by far one of the best. *1. Set up a directory for the IRC client and place the file mircxxx.zip into it. Then unzip the file. *2. If you are not already on-line then first connect to your HOST server. Once connected, execute or run mIRC.exe. *3. You should see a STATUS window that is blank. Click on FILE/SETUP. *4. In the SETUP WINDOW will be a field IRC SERVER. Enter the following address into that field. washington.dc.us.undernet.org or norman.ok.us.undernet.org **NOTE: The above addresses are for the UNDERNET. The next address is for the Beyoundirc Net. irc.primary.net or irc.beyondirc.net Then, click on the ADD button to save this IRC server address. *5. Next, fill in the fields for your NAME, EMAIL ADDRESS, and your LOCAL HOST name or your Local Host IP address. Finally, check the box at the bottom of the display for ALWAYS GET IP ADDRESS ....... *6. Click on the OK button to save this information in the INI file. ************************************************************* GET READY, GET SET, GO ************************************************************* You are now ready to connect to IRC. Go to FILE/CONNECT and you should connect to the undernet server at Washington or Norman or the Beyond net at Primary or Beyondirc. Watch your STATUS screen which will let you know if you are connecting or if there is a problem. If you have a problem, go back to FILE/SETUP and make sure that the IRC SERVER has 'washington.dc.us.undernet.org' or 'norman.ok.us.undernet.ort' and that it shows up in the box below with the number '6667'. (The IRC server should not have quotes around it. I use quotes here to only separate the server address from my text.) Also, make sure your name and email address and host IP information are correct. Once you are successfully connected, type '/join #MJRB' without the quotes. This command will bring you to my IRC channel. If I am on the channel, when the Window '#MJRB' Questions and Answers shows up you will see the name '@prof' in the box on the right. If you don't see that name, then I am not on the channel yet. Once on the channel just type 'Hello Prof'. and then wait until I respond to you. When I respond, we then can continue to have a conversation on any topic you wish. Below are some of the other commands that you may type for different actions on IRC. ************************************************************* BASIC COMMANDS ************************************************************* Since you might connect to IRC at a time when I am not on the channel #MJRB, you may want to use these commands to find a channel to join. These commands will also be useful for you to use at any time. First, just a couple of brief instructions. ->1) To send a command to IRC you will precede the command with a RIGHT SLASH which is the lower right key with the ? mark on it as well. ->2) When in a channel, you only need to type your messages. However, any commands must be preceded by the SLASH. As you become familiar with IRC and use IRC, you will soon learn a lot of commands and fun things to do while on IRC. Here are some of the basic commands you can use one connected to an IRC SERVER. ->1) To get a listing of various servers, type the following command. You will then see a listing of various servers that you can use to connect to IRC. You may want to keep a list of these servers. The command is: /links ->2) In the menu MISC/EXTRAS, near the bottom of the screen you can check a box to turn on logging channels. If you check this box, then, in your MIRC directory, there will be .LOGs for each channel and you then can read off-line the activity and information received for each session. This way, you can always go to the log and copy information from it as needed. ->3) To get a listing of channels that you may join, use the following commands. /list /join #->4) To leave a channel, just type the following: /part ->5) To quit and disconnect from IRC when done, type: /quit These are just the bare bones commands to get you on a channel. Once you get on IRC you will find a lot of friendly people who will help you with learning the fun things that make IRC a great place to be. You will learn about MODE, the way to configure a channel and OP or how to be a channel operator, about TOPIC and who to set topics and lost of neat stuff. You will learn how to send messages to others and perform ACTIONs on the channel. ************************************************************* FINAL COMMENTS ************************************************************* The next lessons will complete the course instruction. We will cover the clients for TELNET, ARCHIE and GOLPHER. The final lessons will be some things to tie up loose ends. Well, I hope to see you on IRC and on the channel #MJRB. We can learn some more stuff there. I am usually on every night around 10PM EST, so until then, happy CHATTING. ============================================================ Robert R. Behrens MJ & RB Computing, Inc. 5 Lakeshore Drive Bellingham, Ma. 02019 rbehrens@kersur.net Copyright Robert Behrens 1995. All Rights Reserved. ============================================================ Robert R. Behrens MJ & RB Computing 5 Lakeshore Drive Bellingham, Ma. 02019 (508) 883-2652 rbehrens@kersur.net rbehrens@world.std.com http://www.kersur.net/~rbehrens ============================================================================= Reference.COM has begun archiving MJRB-TRAINING as of: Jan. 30, 1997 Searchable archives for the list is available at: http://www.reference.com/cgi-bin/pn/listarch?list=MJRB-TRAINING@world.std.com ============================================================================= To unsubscribe from this list, send E-mail to majordomo@world.std.com with the message UNSUBSCRIBE MJRB-TRAINING Contact owner-mjrb-list@world.std.com or rbehrens@kersur.net if you have problems. ============================================================================= WEB PAGE: http://www.kersur.net/~rbehrens =============================================================================