           /----------------------------------------------\
           |    The Internet Relay Chat (IRC) Manual II   |
           |                                              |
           |        Official Universal Release 3.1        |
           |                                              |
           |                  Written by                  |
           |                                              |
           |  Kristy R. Howe (betazoid@access.digex.net)  |
           \______________________________________________/
Copyright notice
================
This article is Copyright 1994 by Kristy R. Howe.  All rights reserved.
You are granted the following rights:
I.  To make copies of this work in original form, so long as
      (a) the copies are exact and complete;
      (b) the copies include the copyright notice and these paragraphs
          in their entirety;
      (c) the copies give obvious credit to the author, Kristy R. Howe.
      (d) the copies are in electronic form.
II. To distribute this work, or copies made under the provisions
    above, so long as
      (a) this is the original work and not a derivative form;
      (b) you do not charge a fee for copying or for distribution;
      (c) you ensure that the distributed form includes the copyright
          notice, this paragraph, the disclaimer of warranty in
          their entirety and credit to the author;
      (d) the distributed form is not in an electronic magazine or
          within computer software (prior explicit permission may be
          obtained from Kristy R. Howe);
      (e) the distributed form is the NEWEST version of the article to
          the best of the knowledge of the distributor;
      (f) the distributed form is electronic.
        You may not distribute this work by any non-electronic media,
including but not limited to books, newsletters, magazines, manuals,
catalogs, and speech.  You may not distribute this work in electronic
magazines or within computer software without prior written explicit
permission.  These rights are temporary and revocable upon written, oral,
or other notice by Kristy R. Howe. This copyright notice shall be governed
by the laws of the state of Virginia.
        If you would like additional rights beyond those granted above,
write to the author at "betazoid@access.digex.net" on the Internet.
Kristy R. Howe (betazoid@access.digex.net)
Note:
=====
In the SUMMARY section, you will find all of the command functions.
This is a good thing to read for quick reference on all of the most
common functions of IRC.  Use it as a "lookup" section!
Index
=====
Section 1 ............................. Welcome aboard!
Section 2 ............................. FTP sites.
Section 3 ............................. What do I type to get on IRC?
Section 4 ............................. Choosing a nickname.
Section 5 ............................. Connecting to a server.
Section 6 ............................. Listing and joining channels.
Section 7 ............................. Why was I kicked and banned?
Section 8 ............................. How do I talk on a channel?
Section 9 ............................. Sending someone a private message.
Section 10 ............................ Ok, so how do I leave this channel?
Section 11 ............................ How do I quit IRC?
Section 12 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::: SUMMARY SECTION
Section 13 ............................ Making an alias.
Section 14 ............................ Using the most common commands.
Section 15 ............................ Annoying things.
Section 16 ............................ Notification of someone's sign on.
Section 17 ............................ Looking at other people.
Section 18 ............................ IRC Help from IRC.
Section 19 ............................ Warning.
Section 20 ............................ Legal documentation.
Section 1 - Welcome aboard!
===========================
Welcome to the Internet Relay chat manual.  This manual has been written
to teach people more about IRC and what it is all really about.  By reading
this manual, you will become more aware of the different things you can do
on IRC.  However, not all help topics have been covered, though all of them
will be mentioned further on in this manual.
Once you are in IRC, you can type /HELP to list all the help topics, and
from there you can read more about them.  The purpose for this manual is
to make the same help contents much easier to read, especially for those
who want to learn quicker, and not bother with all the SYNTAX and PARAMETER
confusion.  Through this manual you will see examples on all the basic
commands of IRC, and a few of the more rarely used commands.
If you have access to the news groups, you can place a posting in one of
the IRC groups if you need further help, or you can email one of the people
listed at the end of this manual where the copyright etc notices are.
Section 2 - FTP sites.
=====================.
To FTP to IRC you may try these two following addresses:
obelix@wu-wien.ac.at 6969, 6969,
uvt.tuzvu.sk
Section 3 - What do I type to get on IRC?
=========================================
>From your prompt% you would type one of three known commands:
1) irc
2) ircii
3) ircII
Followed by the <ENTER> key of course.
Section 4 - Choosing a nickname.
================================
First you should know that the maximum amount of characters per nick is 9.
It is very important to have a nickname in IRC, a nickname that means
something, like a plant or an object, or a name.  If your nickname is
a common name, you will have a lot of conflicts with other people who
wish to use the same nick name.  There can only be one nickname connected
to IRC at one time.  If you experience a KILL, that is because someone
else is using your selected nickname, and you should change yours.
You have to choose a nick beginning with a letter between a-z or A-Z,
but the following characters may NOT be included: !@#$%*()|\";:,.?/<>
Sometimes you will see a nickname like: John_  This means that his nickname
is John, but someone else is using it, so he added a _ to the end of his
nickname, but also, he could have added the _ to the front of the nickname
making it look like this: _John.
Consedering the millions of people who try out IRC, you would have a few
hundred John's on at the same time.  Try to find a good original nickname.
If your nickname looks like your username, especially if your username is
meaningless like: er84088@utexas.edu, you would join IRC with a nickname
that looked like: er84088.  Now, if this were the case, you would be kicked
from any major channel, for having a rediculous nickname.  Select a good one.
>From your prompt% you can type:  irc Gunfangs  (This would give you the
                                                nickname Gunfangs)
or once you are in IRC, you could type: /nickname Gunfangs
All commands start with the / sign, except when you are just plain talking
on a channel.  Read on!
>From IRC see related topics: NICK
Section 5 - Connecting to a server.
===================================
Once you are on IRC and have listed different channels and joined them,
you will be able to look at users or a user by typing something like:
/whois johndoe
This will bring up some information on the nickname johndoe.
It will also show his server name.  This is how he is connected to IRC.
You can always try connecting through someone elses server, if yours
appears lagged (slow).  For example:
/server irc.colorado.edu  (This would connect you to colorado)
Note: Your system administrator has already chosen the fastest server for your
site, and the only reason you should change to another is if yours is dead, or
lagged beyond a point of sanity.  You should only change servers if you really
have to, and look around with the /whois <nickname> command to see what servers
they are on, and sometimes you can use theirs.
>From IRC see related topics: SERVER, WHOIS, WHOWAS, WHO, ADMIN
Section 6 - Listing and joining channels.
=========================================
Now, you may list channels to see what channel you would like to join.  Only
join channels with more than 10 people on them, otherwise you are just going
to somones channel that they created, which is a waste of time.
To list all channels (not recommened over 2000 channels) type: /list
To list channels starting with a, type: /list #a*
Remember the # when you list a channel, or join a channel.
If you type something like /list #aus* you will see:
*** Channel name:   Users:    Topic:
*** #aus             8        Welcome to a dead channel
*** #australia       36       Australia rules!
*** #aussies         76       we have too many people here!
*** #aussies2        2
*** #australian      1        join to talk to me!
In this case you would join the channel with more users, but not too
many unless you can handle the crowd.  When somone talks, everyone sees
it on their screen.  When you say something, then everyone sees it.
You can also send private messages /msg nickname.  Read on to Summary section.
To join a channel, for example #romance, type: /join #romance
Then you will see:
*** yournick (yourname@at.your.site) has joined channel #romance
*** User on #romance: johndoe Bladerunr @Colleen_ @deniise @mark1 @Flake
+@julian kane chrisp1 @flirter
a '@' beside a person's name denotes the channel
operator(s) (or the person(s) who has `ops' (usually
the first person to join a channel).  The person with
'ops' has the ability to kick someone off of THAT
channel and ban someone from joining that channel.
So be good!
>From IRC see related topics: CHANNEL, LIST, NAMES, MSG, JOIN, LEAVE, PART,
                             USERS, LUSER, QUERY, WALLOPS, OPER, KICK, BAN
Section 7 - Why was I kicked and banned?
========================================
If you get kicked, it does not mean you were banned too.  After being kicked
from a channel you should try to join it again.  If then you get the message
on your screen displaying:
*** Sorry, someone banned you from there.
then maybe you should change your nick, if you don't think that you did
anything wrong.  Then try rejoining.
Things not to do on a channel: (Most kicks are followed by a /BAN)
- Do not use CAPS LOCK because this denotes SHOUTING! and you will be kicked
  for useless display of shouting.
- Do not swear excessively, some people can get offended, and kick you out.
- Do not try and pick anyone up, especially on a channel like #romance or
  #happy.  This would result in a kick ban.
- Do not be disgusting, sleezy or otherwise perverted.
- Do not beep.
- Do not use excessive bold.
- Do not use excessive inverse.
- Do not use excessive underline.
- Do not use excessive bold-inverse.
- Do not flood.  This means, do not repeat things many times in a row.  Some
  people still have old 2400 baud modems, and can not handle a lot of flood-
  ing on their screen.
- Do not ask to be a channel operator (or for ops)
>From IRC see related topics: KICK, BAN, MODE
Section 8 - How do I talk on a channel?
=======================================
Once you have joined a channel, say your nickname is Mousewire, you would
see things like:
<Desmond> hi mousewire
<lucas_> heya MW!
<johnny_b> hi Mouse..
Then you could type: hello all!
Thus you would see:
> hello all!
And they will see:
<Mousewire> hello all!
Simple!
>From IRC see related topics: SAY, MSG, QUERY, NOTICE, REDIR, LASTLOG, AWAY
Section 9 - Sending someone a private message.
==============================================
If you are on a channel or not, you can always receive or send a /MSG to
any nickname.  Let's say your nickname is Mousewire, and you are MSGing
someone with the nickname Baloons.  This is how you would send him a
private message.
/msg baloons hi friend
You would see:
->*baloons* hi friend
and he would see:
*Mousewire* hi friend
Nobody else will see your message.  If you want to be in CONSTANT MSG mode,
only to that nickname, you would type:
/QUERY baloons
This would make everything you type be a MSG to him.  If you are on a channel
and want to say something, you could type
/SAY hi all.
This would make everything after /SAY public, and every time you type
anything else in QUERY mode, it would be MSG'd to Baloons.
>From IRC see related topics: ALIAS, DMSG, MSG, QUERY
Section 10 - Ok, so how do I leave this channel?
================================================
Simple, to leave the current channel you are on, you would type:
/leave *
With your novice set to off, you can be on up to 10 channels, if you wanted
to leave a channel that you are on, but not currently talking on, you could
type /leave #channelname (channelname being the name of the channel you want
                          want to leave)
>From IRC see related topics: BYE, EXIT, LEAVE, PART, SIGNOFF, SET
Section 11 - How to I quit IRC?
===============================
Well, why would you want to do that?  IRC is addictive you know!  Oh, you
will be back, ok then.
To leave you can type one of three commands.
/BYE
/EXIT
/SIGNOFF
If you wish to leave a message after your signoff, you could type:
/signoff I will be back!
So people on the channel would see that you have signed off, but it would
look like this:
*** Signoff: Mousewire (I will be back!)
instead of the usual standard signoff messages which usually are:
Leaving
Nickname
>From IRC see related topics: BYE, EXIT, SIGNOFF
Section 12 - SUMMARY SECTION
============================
In summary: here is a quick reference table for MODE and Other commands:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Command:              Description:                       [Related topics]
/nick <newnick>       Change your nick name to <newnick> [NICK]
/join #channel        Join a channel (i.e. #romance) [JOIN, CHANNEL]
                      [You may also create your own!]
/leave #channel       Leave a particular channel      [LEAVE, PART]
/leave *              Leave the channel you are on    [LEAVE, PART]
/set novice off       This way you can join up to 10 channels [SET, ALIAS]
                      [Also use shortcut commands]
/signoff <message>    Leave irc and also leave a small message [BYE, EXIT,
/sign <message>       As above, but with novice off             SIGNOFF]
/topic <new topic>    Set a new topic (if you have ops) [TOPIC]
/topic                View current channel topic        [TOPIC]
ops = channel operator.  Someone has to 'op' you, then you have the power to:
KICK, MODE CHANGE, TOPIC CHANGE, BAN, INVITE.  This is how:
/kick * <nickname>    Kick the person with that <nickname> from the current
                      channel, you MAY include a reason, after you type the
                      nickname: /kick * <nickname> reason  [KICK]
     MODE CHANGES [Related topics on IRC: MODE]
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
/mode * +b *!*host*@*email.address* will ban someone.  Do the opposite
/mode * -b *!*host*@*email.address* to unban them.  This is an effective ban.
/mode * +i            Make the current channel invite only, use the
                      /invite <nickname> to invite people to it.
/mode * -i            Remove the invite only on the channel
/mode * +k <password> Make it so that people can only join the channel with
                      the correct password.
/mode * -k <password> Reverse effect.
/mode * +l 26         Make the channel limited to 26 users.
/mode * -l            Unlimited amount of people allowed.
/mode * +m            Make it so that only "opped" people can publically
                      speak on the channel.  If you want someone else to be
                      able to speak, but do not want to op them, you may type:
/mode * +v <nickname> And this will allow someone not opped to speak in a
                      +m channel.
/mode * -m            Make the channel publically audible.
/mode * -v <nickname> Take public audibility away from the nickname in a
                      +m channel.
/mode * +n            Make a channel block out outside desturbances.
/mode * -n            Reverse effect.  Recommended always +n.
/mode * +o <nickname> Op someone on the channel.
/mode * -o <nickname> Deop someone on the channel.
/mode * +p            Make a channel private/invisible.
/mode * -p            Make channel public.
/mode * +s            Make channel secret/invisible.
/mode * -s            Make channel public.
/mode * +t            Allow only "ops" to change the topic.
/mode * -t            Allow anyone to make a topic.
USER MODES
Then we have user modes. These modes can only be used on your self.  For
now all you need to know is: /mode <yournick> +i or -i.  This makes you
invisible or not-invisible, i.e. people can't see what channel you are
on or what nick you have changed to unless they are on the same channel
as you.  Recommended on.
>From IRC see related topics: MODE
Section 13 - Making an alias.
=============================
Aliases:  Eventually you will have aliases.  Aliases are short cuts; so
instead of typeing /kick * nickname you would have to type /k nickname IF
you have done this:  in your .ircrc file in your root directory in unix,
you can add a line that sais /alias k /kick * $0  or type it from IRC.
But you will have time to learn that when you are more advanced.
>From IRC see related topics: ALIAS, ASSIGN, EVAL, SET, ON, TIMER, LOAD, SAVE
Section 14 - Using the most common commands.
============================================

Here I will tell you about: /msg, /dcc, /describe, /notice, /who, /whois
                            /say, /query, /me, /luser, /list, /names /exec.
Words contained in the brackets [ and ] are related topics you may view
in IRC from the help section if you wish.
/msg <nickname>      Doing this will send THAT nickname a private message.
[MSG, DMSG, QUERY]   They can send you one back.  If it becomes frequent,
                     you may do this:
/query <nickname>    This will keep a constant msg going on between you and
[MSG, DMSG, QUERY]   the <nickname>, and to speak in public, you would have to:
/say <text>          This would allow you to say something on the current
[SAY, NOTICE]        channel without desrupting your /query.
/query               This will turn off your query.
[MSG, QUERY]
/describe <nickname> <action> will send a private action to that nick, like
[DESCRIBE, MSG]       a msg, but it would be an action.  see /me.
/me does something    This is a public action, where to other users and to
[ME, DESCRIBE]        yourself it looks like this on the screen:
                      * Yournick does something
/notice <nickname>    This is like msg, except it is used more so in scripts.
[NOTICE, MSG]         Looks like:  -Yournick- hello there (use msg, ok?)
/who <pattern>        this will tell you who is on irc, or who is on a channel,
[WHO, WHOIS, WHOWAS]  or who is from a college, for instance:
                      /who * would show you all the people on a channel.
                      /who *compserv* would show you all the UN-invisible
                      people on irc with compserv in their address.
/luser                This shows you how many users on irc, invisible and
[USERS, LUSER]        visible, including how many channels total.
/whois <nickname>     This will show you all the information on one particular
[WHOIS, WHOWAS]       nickname, and on it's own, will just show you your info.
/whois <nickname> <nickname> This will show you the <nickname>'s idle time.
[WHOIS, WHOWAS]
/list                 This will show you all the channels.  Bad idea.
[LIST, NAMES]
/list #a*             This will show you all channels starting with A.
[LIST, NAMES]
/names #channel       From inside channel, this will show you only the
[WHO, NAMES]          <nicknames> on that channel.  From outside the channel
                      this will show you all the UN-invisible nicknames in
                      the channel.  On it's own, it will show you all the names
                      of the irc users. Bad idea.
/dcc                  This is like ftp.  If you don't know what ftp is, it is
[DCC, SEND]           like sending a file directly during real time.  It like
                      happens as you speak in IRC.  (Like email, sorta.)
/dcc send <nickname> <path/filename> will send a file to <nickname>
[DCC, SEND]
/dcc get <nickname> <filename> will GET the file and save it to your PWD.
[DCC, SEND]           (working directory - the present directory you are in.)
/exec                 Executes a command in unix.  Limited, examples:
[EXEC]
/exec touch <filename> will create an empty file in your working directory.
[EXEC]
/exec cat <filename>  Will show you a text file in your WD.  Can't use "more".
[EXEC]
/exec ls              List files, can also use ls -l, and ls -al.
[EXEC]
To change your "ircname" in the (brackets) from your UNIX prompt you can
type: setenv IRCNAME "whatever"
Unless you're using a Sun, or any other OS that doesn't have setenv, then
you generally use set IRCNAME "whatever"
Section 15 - Annoying things.
=============================
Control key functions (Hold down the control key and hit the desired key)
^P = Repeat last or previous function, scroll through previous functions.
^B = Bold [Usage: ^B text ^B]  You must make a setting in your .ircrc first.
^V = Inverse text. [Usage: ^V text ^V]  No settings required.
^_ = Underline text. [Usage: ^_ text ^_] No settings required.
^G = Beep.  You can make multiple beeps too.  Can get kicked for it.
>From IRC see related topics: ASSIGN, ALIAS, SET, ON, TIMER, BIND
Section 16 - Notification of someone's sign on.
===============================================
The command is notify.  It can be placed in your .ircrc file in your
home directory.  You can edit the file using vi (or other editor) or
you can make the changes in IRC, and then SAVE them.  You can also make
small script files, and load them from IRC or oad them from your .ircrc.
If you want to be notified every time Shelly1 sign's on, you can have a
line that looks like this, or you can type it, from IRC.
/notify shelly1
If she is on, you will see this message.
*** Signon by Shelly1 detected.
If she is on, and ten she leaves, you will see this message:
*** Signoff by Shelly1 detected.
Remember, there could be a million different Shelly1's on IRC.  Memorize
their username and host address (same as their email address).  Example:
When you type /whois shelly1 (assuming it is the correct Shelly1) you would
see:
*** Shelly1 is sh_230@american.uni.edu (Shelly Watson)
*** Shelly1 is connected on server irc.colorado.edu
*** Shelly1 is on channels #happy #romance @#shelly
You could also get another format of the above message.
Also you can change the (Shelly Watson) to be anything you want, on your
own account, not on hers.  You can not change anything about anyone on
IRC, except maybe the way they think of you.  But, I'm not getting paid
for this, so you figure it out.  (Hint: you do it before you go on IRC.)
If you really want to find out the maximum information about someone, see
the IRC help on CTCP.  There are many commands, like:
/ctcp finger, date, time, ping (etc..)
>From IRC see related topics: NOTIFY, SAVE, LOAD, WHOIS, WHOWAS, WHO, CTCP
Section 17 - Looking at other people.
=====================================
There are a few ways of doing it some on the channel, some not.  Examples:
/whois kristy     (If Kristy is logged on, you will see her information)
/who *            (Will likes all the people on the current channel)
/who *.edu        (Will show you all the people on from *.edu (a lot!))
/names #channel   (Will show you only the nicks on the current channel)
/names #other     (Will show you the uninvisible nicks on another channel
                   that you are not on, pending that the channel is not
                   invisible too.)
>From IRC see related topics: WHOIS, WHO, WHOWAS, NAMES, MSG, DMSG, QUERY
Section 18 - IRC Help from IRC.
===============================
Once you are on IRC, and want to get really in depth on the above mentioned
commands and more, this is how to do it.  From IRC, type:
/HELP  (upper or lower case, not sensitive)
Help will display a list of HELP TOPICS you may then enter from the
Topic? prompt.  Here are the Help topics available:
!            #            :            ADMIN        ALIAS
ASSIGN       AWAY         BIND         BYE          CD
CHANNEL      CLEAR        COMMENT      CONNECT      CTCP
DATE         DCC          DEOP         DESCRIBE     DIE
DIGRAPH      DMSG         DQUERY       ECHO         ENCRYPT
EVAL         EXEC         EXIT         FLUSH        FOREACH
HELP         HISTORY      HOOK         IF           IGNORE
INFO         INPUT        INVITE       JOIN         KICK
KILL         LASTLOG      LEAVE        LINKS        LIST
LOAD         LUSERS       ME           MLOAD        MODE
MOTD         MSG          NAMES        NICK         NOTE
NOTICE       NOTIFY       ON           OPER         PARSEKEY
PART         PING         QUERY        QUIT         QUOTE
REDIRECT     REHASH       RESTART      SAVE         SAY
SEND         SENDLINE     SERVER       SET          SIGNOFF
SLEEP        SQUIT        STATS        SUMMON       TIME
TIMER        TOPIC        TRACE        TYPE         USERHOST
USERS        VERSION      WAIT         WALLOPS      WHICH
WHILE        WHO          WHOIS        WHOWAS       WINDOW
XECHO        XTYPE
Section 19: Warning.
====================
It is possible for other users to hack into their account.  Do not type
anything that looks suspicious.  Consult others if someone asks you to
type something that looks odd.  Or, just don't type it.  If the person
gets persistant, /ignore them.  Do not give anyone your password.
Section 20: Legal documentation.
================================
Disclaimer
----------
The authors of "The Internet Relay Chat Manual II" wish to remind you of the
following:
A.  Though we make every effort to remain updated and current, it IS
    possible that the particular client (irc program) which you are running from
    your site will not support each and every command listed (this is especially
    true of VAX sites and sites running antiqudated clients).
B.    Running scripts can often
  1.  change or abrieviate and number of commands (by the use of aliases.)
  2.  slow down your IRC preformance (since each command issued must be
      filtered through the script(s) running.
  3.  leave your account (or entire site) open to unauthorized access via
      back doors and other 'tricks of the trade'.
C.  There is no one person, agency, or organization which governs nor
    monitors the IRC.  Therefore, we are answerable only to ourselves.  WE TAKE
    NO RESPONSIBILTY FOR ANY HARM, MISCONDUCT, OR GENERAL MALADY WHICH MAY
    RESULT FROM THE USE (approriate or inappropriate) FROM THIS MANUAL.
    Further, we are not paid to maintain or update this manual.  It is written
    and maintained in the spirit of good will towards the user.
D.    Please feel free to distribute this manual freely provided:
  1.  No monetary compensation is charged.
  2.  This is manual is distribute COMPLETELY in-tact as is.
  3.  The preceeding disclaimer remains attached.
E.    No part of this manual may reproduced either in whole or in part with
      out the expressed consent of the owner:  betazoid@access.digex.net
--
