IRC Lesson 101:
How to start with the Showdogs chat channel!
To join us on the Showdogs Chat channel, you need to have an IRC client (software/program), but it's easy and relatively quick to download (for free: shareware). For the PC user I recommend the "mIRC" client . If you are a Mac user, the "IRCLE" comes recommended. The newer versions of mIRC supports colors, pop ups, text, and wav (sound) files - which make the 'conversation' a lot of fun! It's pretty easy to learn how to do them, too, and there are good instructions with the clients when you d/l them, so do read them. The channel "Ops" (operators) are always willing to help in the #Showdogs channel, and there are specific help channels: "newbie" channels!
After you have down-loaded the chat client onto your computer's hard-drive, it should've created an icon for you (you can always put the icon into a special folder "chat", "games" or "dog stuff" or whatever) - double click on the icon , and it will "launch", or open, the chatting client. There are a few places that need attention when you first open the client. Many (if not most) of the areas are done or will fill in themselves. But there are some places that it asks for information. It's pretty simple, but if you don't understand what it is: go to the help file, the help website, or write to me.
Where it asks for your name put initials in: "mpj", or "MPJones", or your nick - but not "Miss Mary P. Jones" - there's no reason you need to give away too much information. Where your email address should go you can put your real address in if you want, or you can put something misleading in such as "nunuvyer@buznis.com". Think safety; I don't mean to scare, just caution. Another newer feature of mIRC is the "invisible" option, do check that - and then very little information will be available to anyone wanting to check you out
As for a "nick"?? That's the nickname that you will use while online, the moniker people will come to know you by. The nick can be either your own name, a favorite dog's name, their kennel name, or something else that you like. Many people use an actual nickname (I'm "Rustee" !!). You can get creative! Most people choose a nick, and then use it every time they chat so that people will know who they are each time they are online. Then again, you could change it each time you come into the chat-room, and keep us guessing! (More on nicks below)
To find the Showdogs channel you must choose an "ShadowWorld.Net" server. There should already be several servers in the "mIRC setup" box. Left click on any one of the ShadowWorld.Net servers, and then click on "connect" (or double click on it for the same result). It can take a moment or three to get connected to a server at peak times (e.g. Friday and Saturday nights), so try a different server if you don't connect right away. Usually it only takes 5 - 10 seconds. ShadowWorld Net servers would be any address with "ShadowWorld Net" in it, such as: IRC.ShadowWorld.Net That is the "generic" server address, and the one that I use first.
To add the server addresses to your list of IRC servers, you would click on the 2nd icon (Set up info), and then in the tab marked "IRC Servers" by clicking on "add", and then entering the same address in both the "description" and "IRC Server" areas; click on 'okay', and then click on any of them to connect.
Once you are connected to a server, you will see a "status" window, and that shows your "status" - you can shrink or minimize it after you've checked it out, as you don't really use it often. An "mIRC channel folder" window will pop up, asking which channel you want to be in. Type in the channel name: #Showdogs (just like that, you need the prefix: #), then click on "join". OR, you can type this in the status window: /join #Showdogs and press "enter" - to do the same thing.
Another window will appear (this one with three parts), and it will be the Showdogs channel, yay! The left (and largest) section will show the dialog of the participants; the right section lists the 'nicks' of the people in the channel; and the short-but-long bottom part is where you type what YOU want to say. After you have typed what you want to say, tap "enter", and it sends your words to the entire room. And the conversation is real time... pretty neat!! (The blinking cursor needs to be in the bottom line/window of the #Showdogs channel window.)
With ShadowWorld Net you may register your chosen nick - and once you have done so, no one else can use it - well, not for more than a minute or so, and if they don't ID themselves with the correct password, they'll get kicked off! If you feel that you'll be a regular chatter, and want to protect your choice of name, you might consider registering your nick. When you are connected to a ShadowWorld.Net server you can register your nick, choosing a password that you would identify yourself with so that no one else can use your nick. The syntax is: /msg NickServ register (password). (And don't forget your password!). You must use the nick at least once every 2 weeks to keep the registration active. You will be asked to identify yourself when you connect to the net, and to do this you would type: /msg NickServ identify (password) (without the ( ) of course). You can do this in your "perform" section with mIRC: click on the "general options" button {3rd button on left}, click on the "perform" tab. Type -on it's own line- /msg NickServ identify (password) , then check the little box "on connect perform these commands". Then click on "okay". When you next connect to the ShadowWorld.Net, the identifying step will be done for you! I also have that using my function keys so if I change nicks while in the channel I don't have to type it in, and the 'perform' command won't help. Put this: F1 /msg Nickserv IDENTIFY (password) , on it's own line in Aliases, and click on OKAY. To use this, press F1.
Give it a whirl, and write back with questions (if you have any!) I hope that I have covered everything to get started, but if you need help, please write to me, and I'll get back to you as fast as I can! And, as always, if anyone should have any questions please write to:
Sandra - "Rustee" ;Melinda - "Swirrrly"
Beth - "Poodle"
Mary - "SalukiMary"
To return to the #Showdogs main page, click on the doggy bone!
Sandra L. Reiley-Lince February 18, 1997, updated May 24, 2001
