IRC Clients
From HOL Wiki
It does not matter which IRC client you use; all clients are able to connect to the same network (blitzed). However, some popular ones are:
- mIRC (for the PC)
- KLIENT (for the PC)
- X-Chat Aqua (for the MAC)
- SNAK (for the MAC)
- Colloquy (for the MAC)
We recommend installing one of the above because there are people present on IRC that can help you set it up--we may not be familiar with other IRC clients. However, for a list of other clients, access a shareware depository such as tucows (http://www.tucows.com) or other site and type IRC in the search engine.
For a list of blitzed servers, see: http://www.blitzed.org and select "servers" which lists the name of the server.
The following is an introductory installation guide for the aforementioned clients.
Contents |
mIRC (for the PC)
Before you download a copy of mIRC, you need to know what operation system (OS) you are using in order to know which copy of mIRC you need. Determine which issue you will be using:
- If you have Windows 95 with an old 16 bit winsock like Netcruiser, or the old 16 bit Trumpet winsock, go on installing the 16 bit issue! (not the 32 bit issue)
- If you have a normal Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, NT, XP, or Vista go on installing the latest 32-bit issue.
Most of you will probably be using the 32 bit mIRC. Link to the download sites here: http://www.mirc.com/get.html
NOTE: Make sure you download the correct version! 32-bit is listed first, 16-bit second. Save it to disk and then install.
Installation of mIRC is pretty straightforward and doesn't register anything in the registry. Download it at http://www.mirc.com/get.html. Just install it as you would any other program on your computer. Once you've installed it, make sure you are online (that is, have a "live" Internet connection) double click on the mIRC icon. If the connect dialogue doesn't come up, go to file/options/connect and fill in the following information:
- Press the "add" button
- Description: HOL (or whatever you want)
- IRCServer: irc.blitzed.org (leave everything else alone)
- And press "add"
- Then select HOL and press connect to IRC Server
- Once the the status window displays "you are logged on"
- Type: /join #hpgalleries
Alternatively, you can also search in the drop-down menu for Blitzed and connect to Blitzed: Random Server.
For additional information, access: http://www.mirc.com/install.html (How to install mIRC).
Colour Text on mIRC
How can I make my text on IRC a certain colour every time I write something?
For this you need the remote:
on *:input:*:{ if ($left($1,1) != /) { /say $chr(3) $+ colours here $+ $1- | halt } }
Copy and paste that code, beginning with 'on' and ending with '}', into the Remotes box and replace the 'colours here' with the numbers of the colours you want your writing to be. The first color you put will be the text colour and the second (the two are separated by a comma) will be the background colour. (To view the colours available, push Ctrl + K at the same time.)
IRC colours are not always cross-platform compatible or often not compatible between different IRC programs. If they are not compatible, all you will see is a number code before each line of text.
KLIENT (for the PC)
One alternative IRC client to mIRC that has recently gained in popularity, is Klient, available for download from http://www.klient.com (on an initial 30 day trial basis).
Installation is simple, and configuration is similarly easy, thanks to a handy connection wizard that runs when you first use the program. This should enable you to connect to one of the servers on the Blitzed network and then join channels as normal, as the IRC commands are the same.
Klient does give you a greater degree of configurability (accessed via F3) and also looks significantly nicer. For those in search of the colour remote, these are done in a different manner to mIRC, due to the different scripting languages being used. To get a colour remote, follow these steps.
- Press F10 (to open the script editor)
- Scroll down to the 'events' section, and press the + button to create a new event
- Set the event type from the drop down menu to 'Enter Pressed'
- Then type the following code in the main script box
'Params: Server, Window, Text if Window.WindowType = WindowMgr.WT_CHANNEL then Text = "(type control+k)1,1" & Text end if
Substitute the 1,1 for whatever colour combination you like, save, and you're done. Please note the (type control+k) part should be replaced simply by the symbol derived by pressing control + k.
If you need any help with Klient, just ask around in #hpgalleries; there's usually someone around using it to help. Just try asking "Help, I need some help with the BEST IRC client!"
X-Chat Aqua (for the MAC)
X-Chat Aqua is a free IRC client that's very easy to install on a Mac. You don't have to deal with binaries or type in any weird commands to the terminal. It has a native Mac OS feel, so it will be natural to use, and you can use colours! Unlike Colloquy (another free IRC client for Macs), ping responses are generally under 1 second, which means it is better for Quidditch. It also has a nicer interface.
Basic IRC
- Download from http://sourceforge.net/projects/xchataqua/
- Double-click icon (named X-Chat_Aqua.#.##.dmg) to mount, open the X-Chat Aqua folder and drag the X-Chat icon to your Application Folder (it is now installed)
- Double click the X-Chat icon from your applications folder to launch the application
- A server list should pop up (File->Server List or Cmd-S if it doesn't)
- Enter your desired nickname(s) (if your desired name is taken, use another)
- Under 'Networks', click the plus sign at the bottom to add a new network, then click the 'Edit...' button right next to it
- A new window pops up, click 'Edit' under 'Server', and type irc.blitzed.org
- Optional: At the bottom you can type channels you automatically join upon signing on, such as #hpgalleries. Also once you register your nickname, type your password here, so you don't have to /msg NickServ everytime.
- Now click 'Done' and then 'Connect'. If you didn't put in #hpgalleries earlier, type /join #hpgalleries
More Advanced Options
- Under X-Chat Aqua -> Preferences or Cmd-comma in the Chatting category, click Events/Sounds to have a sound go off at any event you choose.
- In the main chat window, to the right of where you type, there is a big down arrow. Click it, and a list of colors will pop up, click on the color you wish to type in, and your message will show up in that color.
- Under X-Chat Aqua -> Preferences List -> Userlist Buttons, you can customize buttons that go in the main text window, such as a whois button, etc.
- Any other questions, just ask for help.
SNAK (for the MAC)
In general, Mac programs are self-installing. Simply double-clicking the icon will install the program. This is true for Snak. In this case, it simply expands the folder that is 'Stuffed' and there you go. When you want to use Snak - all you have to do is double-click the Snak Icon in the Snak folder.
- Double-click Snak to open it.
- In the Profile List dialog box (where you used to just enter #hpgalleries), click on Newnet, in the TITLE section.
- Select ADD
- Select irc.blitzed.org from window to the right.
- Select OK
- Select OK
- You should now be back in the Profile List dialog box. Make sure that Newnet is highlighted in the TITLE section (disregard the server name to the right). Type in #hpgalleries in the FORM window (as usual).
- Select CONNECT
Once the the status window displays "you are logged on", type "/join #hpgalleries"
Alternatively, Snak can be found at http://www.snak.com
SNAK FAQ
What do all the different colors in the list of people mean?
- The ops are the people with red names. People with green names are voiced. People with purple names are IRC Ops.
How do I p2p someone?
- Do /msg nick, replacing "nick" with the person's name. When people p2p you, it will appear in red. When you p2p someone, it'll look like this; "person: ->person2: text". If you want to have your p2p with someone in a different window, do /query nick, and a new window will pop up. To notice someone, do /notice nick. Notices appear in grey when other people notice you. When you notice someone, it looks just like it does when you do /msg.
How do I set it up so that I get pinged by my name?
- Go to "Windows" on the top of your screen and select "Actions List". Click Add, and in the "Message" box put your nick. Select "Highlight" from the drop-down menu(it should already be selected), and check "Beep". Then click "OK".
How do I do colors on Snak?
- You can't.
How do I make a remote?
- You can't.
How do I do a pop-up?
- Push Alt and click on a nick. A menu will come up. Select what you want to do, and click on it.
How do I set it up so that I can get notified when someone comes online?
- Go to "Windows" and select "Action List". Select Contacts and click Add. Put the person's nick in the Nick box and check "Notify me on signon/signoff". Then click OK.
Colloquy (for the MAC)
Colloquy is a great free alternative to Snak. Installation is easy: double-click the zipped file, open the now unzipped folder, and drag Colloquy to your Applications folder. Then double-click Colloquy's icon to open it.
- In the Connections window, click the 'New' button.
- In the Chat Server text field, type irc.blitzed.org
- For more options, click the down arrow button next to 'Details'. Once you're done, click 'Connect'.
- The new connection you've set up will now be in the Connections window. If you're connected to the server, you'll see a little lightning icon to the left of the server name in the list. To connect in the future, just select this connection and press the 'Connect' button.
- To join a channel, click the 'Join Room' button and type in the channel name, e.g. '#hpgalleries'. The channel will open in a new window and you can begin chatting!
Download: http://colloquy.info/downloads.html
Colloquy Notes
Changing your own colors and using remotes are not available in the current version of Colloquy. It is, however, compatible with mIRC colors, so you won't see any strange formatting.
Also, right-clicking on a person's nick in the member list will give you a few handy options, including Get Info and Ignore. To p2p someone, double-click on their nick in the member list.
Colloquy automatically pings you when someone types your nick, but you can set other words to ping you as well. In the menu bar, select Colloquy, then Preferences. Select alerts, and type in any other words you want to be pinged with in the 'Highlighted words' field.
X-Chat Tutorial (Unix, Windows)
XChat is an IRC (chat) program for Windows and UNIX (Linux/BSD) operating systems. It will work on: GNU-Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris, AIX, IRIX, DEC/Compaq Tru64 Unix, HP-UX, MacOS X, Widows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP. There are several ways to get X-Chat. These days, most Linux distributions that have some form of Graphical User Interface (GUI) come with X-Chat pre-installed. However, if you do not have X-Chat pre-installed it is quite simple to install, but it is a different process depending on your distribution.
- To Install on Debian Based Systems:
- Open a terminal (Applications -> System Tools -> Terminal).
- Type in su , hit enter, and at the prompt type in your root password.
- Type apt-get install xchat and hit enter.
- Run the command update-menus .
- Type in exit .
- Run X-Chat (either by going Applications -> Internet -> X-Chat IRC OR run X-Chat from the terminal. (The command is xchat .))
- To Install on an RPM Based System:
- Open a terminal (Applications -> System Tools -> Terminal).
- Type in su then hit enter, and at the prompt type in your root password.
- Type yum install xchat and hit enter.
- Type in exit and hit enter.
- Run X-Chat (either by going Applications -> Internet -> X-Chat IRC OR run X-Chat from the terminal. (The command is xchat .))
- To Install from Source:
- Download the source from http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=239 to your home directory.
- Open a terminal (Applications -> System Tools -> Terminal).
- Type in tar xjvf xchat* and hit enter if you picked a .tar.bz2 file (or type in tar zxvf xchat* and hit enter if you picked a .tar.gz file).
- Type in cd xchat* and hit enter.
- Type in ./configure and hit enter.
- Type in make and hit enter.
- Type in su then hit enter, and at the prompt type in your root password.
- Run the make install command.
- Run the update-menus command.
- Type in exit and hit enter.
- Run the make clean command.
- Run X-Chat (either by going Applications -> Internet -> XChat IRC OR run X-Chat from the terminal. (The command is xchat .))
- Install On Windows:
- Download and install the executable from http://www.xchat.org/ . Restart. Run X-Chat from the start menu. NOTE: There are many other ways to install X-Chat, but they are beyond the scope of this tutorial.
- Running X-Chat
- Edit the "User Info" fields accordingly. The nickname goes next to "Nickname", you HOL Name goes next to "Real Name", etc.
- Under the "Networks" section click "Add" and type in Blitzed .
- Click on the Blitzed tab and click on "Edit...". Click on "newserver/6777" under "Servers for Blitzed". Then click the "Edit" button. Type in "irc.blitzed.org/6777". Leave the rest of the fields blank.
- Close the server editing window and press the "Connect" button.
- Once you're connected, simply type /join #hpgalleries
- For a list of commands, simply type /raw help
I have not found a way to have colours placed automatically on output text towards a channel. The only two ways that I know of now are by typing Ctrl-k1,1Text Goes Here in a channel window where 1,1 is your colour code or by right-clicking the channel tab and selecting "Insert Colour Code".
Making remotes and scripts for X-Chat is beyond the scope of this tutorial. However, you can read an indepth tutorial at: http://www.xchat.org/docs/ . This tutorial will be kept updated as X-Chat is updated. X-Chat is registered under the GPL license.
