Welcome to the wonderful world of IRC. IRC offers some quick and easy solutions for performing our tasks. We have tried to cover the basics and provide this as a reminder to the training sessions.
There are several programs of IRC for the Mac available. Some do not work as well as others. Depending on your Operating system one has several choices. The Snak Program chosen here will run smoothly in both Mac OS 8.6 - 9.22 with Carbonlib installed. It also runs in OSX smoothly with one tweak to starting up the enable ident which is required by most IRC type servers.
Many of the functions are functional without your host clothes. You will need your host clothes to check IP's and to expel members.
Check on a member's status: Whois will provide you with a members name, idle time and IP address. You should do a /whois on any new member that enters the room. If there is a problem with a member the IP and log should be sent to GROWW staff.
Highlight members name
Highlight User, Control click, highlight whois, or type
in /whois Username.
Please note: The members/host name must be exactly the way
it appears in the room.
A System window should pop up with the whois information. If you can't see it select stack windows to find it and then rearrange your windows to your liking.
Display and review whois information
PC, Query, and DCC: You may use either of these for talking to members in pc either in the same room you are in or in another room. Please note: The members/host name must be exactly the way it appears in the room. The differences between PC and DCC is the way the program handles the input.
For quick PC type /msg Username text. This is ok but if something is spelled wrong or typed wrong it may be seen in the room when it was meant to be private.
Query is easiest to use more reliable and will create an individual log for the query if settings are correct to do so. If you are in the same room just Highlight User, Control click, Highlight . Query A separate box will popup. Place your cursor on the blank line of the window you wish to talk in. Two other ways to initiate this is to either type /query Username text, or double click Username, /query username will be placed in your blank line of the main chat window and you can type your message to them there. Either way a query window will pop up and you won't accidentally type something private in the room.
DCC is similar to query but one may have difficulty communicating if the other is not set up properly to accept DCC.
Expelling a member:
At times a members name may freeze and we need to remove their name so they can reenter the room.
Any member who is disrespectful, rude or inappropriate is NOT acceptable at any time. IF the behavior does not change with warnings please let the member know they will be expelled. It is best to do this in pc. There are some cases where a staff person might do it in the room.
LOGGING: Any time you are hosting we request that you log the room and all pc's. If you experience a problem you feel needs to be reported, Always send Name, IP and the entire log(s) with time stamps (please note your Time Zone) to security@groww.org.
Type the name exactly the way it appears in the room.
Example: /expel TedM
Download program and install
Basics:
You need to be connected to an IRC server before you can send and receive messages. In order to gain access to a server you need to tell Snak what nickname to use, the name of the server etc. All that information is stored in a connection profile.
Snak comes with a number of predefined profiles that will let you connect to the largest IRC networks when you have gone through the Setup Assistant. Even though we will not be using those it is best to go through the setup assistant the first time. Settings can be changed later if you make a mistake.
The first thing you need to do of course is what nick or nicks and passwords you will need to have for hosting. Those are given to you from Staff ONLY and you should not let anyone else know those passwords under any circumstance!
Terminology:
The nickname and alternative nickname fields hold the nicknames that Snak will use when connecting to the server. If the first nickname is already taken, Snak will try the alternative. If that is also taken Snak will bring up a dialog that allows you to enter something else.
The username field contains the identification that Snak will give to the server, and you will see it in the user list after you join a channel. Changes to this field only take effect when you connect to a server.
The password field is only used if the server requires you to enter a password before gaining access. For example, some universities have private IRC servers that require such a password.
The server list allows you to add multiple servers to a profile. Snak will then attempt to connect to each server in turn until it finds one that will let you in.
The Startup Actions field allows you to have Snak execute specific commands after it connects to a server. You can use this feature to automatically join channels after you connect but the field accepts any IRC commands. You can enter up to 500 characters.
To join a channel, select it in the favorites list and press the Join button. If the channel is not in the list you can type its name in the edit field, or add it with the Add button.
The popup menu next to the edit field allows you to select the profile for the network you want to join. If you don't know what this is, select EFNet or DALNet.
Since not all networks carry all channels, there may not be anyone in the channel when you join. In that case, select a different profile in the popup and try again.
Setup assistant:
The first time you start Snak the setup assistant will run. This is where you can choose the nickname you prefer on IRC, and set up a few important settings. After that is completed, the program itself will start.
When the program is not registered, the first window that comes up serves to remind you that Snak is distributed as shareware. Shareware means that you are free to use the program for a while, but you will eventually have to pay for Snak if you decide to keep using it.
This window also contains helpful tips on how to use the program. A different one is displayed each time the program runs.
Groww Setup:
First when you have completed your initial set up DO not try to connect to Grow server yet as first you want to ensure everything is set up properly so you should follow the steps below:
Profiles:
On the menu bar of Snak under Windows you will want to select Profile List. Cmd-K is the shortcut for profile list.
A The profile window will pop up and you will need to add either Groww or GrowwHost to this. I prefer two separate profiles for quick change if I'm not hosting at the time but need to change quickly without fumbling around.
First we need to add the the Groww network and server information and then we will add the profile(s) so you would click the add button.
A new window will pop up for Server Selection.
As Groww is not a public server we need to add it first.
Under the Network section on the left hand side you will click on ADD button.
An edit network window will pop up and you just need to name the network GrowwHost. Click OK.
Under the Server section on the right side of Server Selection while the Groww Network is highlighted, click the ADD button
An edit server window will pop up. The information here is critical for you to connect to groww and must be entered exactly or you will not connect.
In the Name box enter pro2.webpage.com
in the Port box enter 9511
Comment and Time out boxes can be left alone.
After you click on OK, a GrowwHost Profile window will open.
Next enter your hosting nick in the Nick box. Enter an alternate nick in case you drop from the server and your name hasn't cleared.
In Username box, You need to enter your hosting nick exactly as given to you by staff. Proper capitalization here is critical.
In Password box, You need to enter your hosting password exactly as given to you by staff. Proper capitalization here is critical.
It is best to not select the Automatic Connect box.
Below is an example of how this profile it should look when you are finished.
The only thing not touched on yet is the Startup Actions shown. Here I have a text file in the UserScripts folder named groww. It contains all my aliases I use at groww which are separate from the standard aliases that come with the program itself. If you wish to do the same you can go ahead and type in /load filename that you wish to use. we will create aliases later before we actually connect to groww.
You can now click on the OK button on the GrowwHost Profile window . This should bring you back to the Profile List we started with.
You may wish to add a second profile for when you just want to be a member repeat the above steps staring with the ADD network and this time just Name it Groww. Without a second profile one often has to edit the main profile to even change from hosting to member status. You will not need to add the grow network or Server info again but you will have to select them for proper association to the profile. An example is of a second Profile is below:
If you need to edit a profile after creating one, select it in the Profile List and Edit it accordingly.
Snak Alias - Macro for Groww
Aliases: Many hosts use alias for greetings, and long messages they frequently use. Snak uses aliases or Macros from a file called basical in the UserScripts Folder where the Application is installed. I prefer creating and using a separate file I name groww in the same folder and having Snak load it when I connect. I do this so that if I need to make changes or additions it is easy to do it in a separate file in case something breaks it's easier to fix.
Sometimes when the room is getting out of control and you want to slow the room down or get the focus off the subject we use some of the general macros. Please feel free to cut and paste of any of these into your alias file in the UserScripts folder.
To create a Groww Alias file you may use any text editor such as SimpleText or BBedit to create the file with. You can even use Word but do not save it in anything but a text format or it will not work. For this example find and open SimpleText (which is installed by default from Apple). Copy the aliases below and past them into the blank document window. then save the file to the UserScripts folder with the file name of groww (this will then match what was entered earlier in the Startup Actions box when you created the GrowwHost Profile).
Caution: Due to differences between Windows mIRC and Mac IRC some of the ways aliases or macros are when coping a macro from a PC user to Mac user or visa versa some things will not work unless they are changed i.e. { }, ( ) $$1 does not work on the MAC alias they are used for command programing. Please refer to the scripting manual that comes with Snak.
Each alias must be entered separately. Each alias must start with the word alias followed by a unique word or letter for each alias followed by the word say followed by the text you wish to be said.
For example - alias hh say [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ $* ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]] hi
When you type into the chat bar
/hh friends
you would see this in the room window
[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[
friends
]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
hi
Below are some examples that you may cut and paste if you wish (these have been modified to work with Snak as needed).
alias hh say [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ $* ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]] hi
alias nite say nite [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ $* ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]] take care
alias 30sec say PLEASE READ when you are ready to leave ... please tell us ... then wait 30 seconds for good-bye hugs .... and please remember to logoff or X out of room !!!
alias float say Click on the button which says FLOAT it will open a new window now MAXIMIZE that window by clicking on the square in the upper right hand corner the square is between the "-" and the "x" it will make the room larger then in the type box,Ý type exactly *chat fontsize 16
alias reminder say Just a reminder: The most important person in the room is the newcomer or someone in pain. If you are not prepared to take care of that person or are not in the mood for support, please remove yourself to GFW2 or HomeGROWWn, which were designed for just that purpose - camaraderie and fellowship.
alias news say The staff at GROWW is pleased to announce that the first edition of our new monthly newsletter will be published in November. A new link has been added to the left menu bar of all our webpages. To subscribe, just click on the link and complete the form. Email addresses will not be sold or shared. An unsubscribe option will be available in each issue.
alias swear say PLEASE NO CURSING, we don't know if or when a child may come in ... we are open to all ages,it is a family site until midnight eastern time THANK YOU :-)
alias survey say THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO GROWW: Please fill out the email survey at the beginning where you came in at to receive more info of what GROWW has to offer you...... ALSO don't forget to bookmark us so that you can find us easier the next time you would need us ..... and please don't forget to log off with the little X at the top...
alias books say GROWW has contracted with many authors who have written about grief and loss. You can find them here: www.helpgroww.com/books.htm. This page also links to Amazon.com for other books and music.
alias PC say " FOLKS: please be aware that unsolicited private chat (PC) is not allowed on GROWW.... if you receive any, please be sure to tell a Host or write to WeCare@GROWW.org
alais HA say Heavenly Angels - Loss of a child - open every night from 9:30 to 11:30 PM Eastern Time. Tuesday has an emphasis on Stillborn/miscarriage loss and Saturday has an emphasis on Adult children loss." http://www.groww.org/chat/heavenly.htm
alias GFW2 say GROWW for Widowed 2 - Open to all widowed ready to rebuild or for fellowship- Thursday 9 PM to 10 PM ET http://groww.org/chat/gfw2.htm or #GROWWforWidowed2
alias GR say Grief Recovery - Our Main Room FOR ALL BEREAVED Our main chatroom - 24 Hours a day - 7 days a week Hosted 6 AM - 2 AM ET http://www.groww.org/chat/gr.html #GriefRecovery
alias GFW say GROWW for Widowed - Loss of a spouse - open to all widowed Hosted 7 PM - Midnight ET -> http://groww.org/chat/gfwo.htm or #GROWWforWidowed
alias TA say Tender Angels - Widowed under 50 - Tuesday & Wednesday 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM ET -> http://groww.org/chat/tender.htm or #TenderAngels
alias GA say Golden Angels - Widowed over 50 - Thursdays 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET http://groww.org/chat/golden.htm or #GoldenAngels
alias GAP say Guiding Angels - Loss of a parent - Wednesday 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM ET,Thursday 9:00 PM ET to 10:00 PM -> http://groww.org/chat/guiding.htm or #GuidingAngels
alias youth say Guiding for Youth for children to age 18 who have experienced a death of a loved one - Meeting Thursday evenings 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM EST . http://groww.org/chat/guiding2.htm or #GuidingforYouth
alias KA say Kindred Angels - Loss of siblings, cousins, and best friends - Monday and Tuesday 9:00 to 11:00 PM ET -> http://groww.org/chat/kindred.htm or #KindredAngels
alias sos say Reluctant Angels - Suicide Survivors - Sunday 7:30 - 9:30 PM ET,Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 -10:00 PM ET,Meeting: http://groww.org/sos.htm or #ReluctantAngels
alias SAV say Silenced Angels - Violent losses - Monday 8:00 PM ET to 10:00 PM http://groww.org/chat/silenced.htm or #SilencedAngels
alias SA say Sharing Angels - Organ and tissue donors and recipients - Monday 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM ET -> http://groww.org/chat/sharing_angels.htm or #SharingAngels
alias TA2 say Timeless Angels - Time to be announced soon http://groww.org/chat/time.htm or #TimelessAngels
alias UA say Unexpected Angels - Sudden Death - Monday 9:00 - 11:00 PM ET & Fridays 11:00 PM- 12:00 midnight ET -> http://groww.org/chat/sudden.htm or #UnexpectedAngels
alias FA say Angels of Addiction- Bereaved parents of children lost to addiction. This is a password entry room - Tuesday & Thursday 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET -> For instructions http://groww.org/chat/angelsofaddiction.htm or #FallenAngels
alias SAAbuse say Stormy Angels - Issues of abuse alias rape arising from a loss. This is a password entry room - Thursday 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM ET & Saturday 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM noon ET -> For instructions http://groww.org/chat/stormy.htm #StormyAngels
alias HG say Home GROWWn - A chatroom for fellowship http://groww.org/chat/homegrowwn.htm or #HomeGROWWn
alias MG say Men in Grief - A place for men to share their grief - Message Board only -> http://www.groww.org/community/boards/strong.html
alias Spanish say GROWW in Spanish - Message Board only -> http://groww.org/community/boards/spanish.htm
alias AOA say Attack on America - Losses due to terrorist attacks - Temporarily closed -> http://groww.org/Branches/aoa.htm - Please see Silenced Angels http://groww.org/chat/silenced.htm Wednesday 8:00 PM ET to 10:00 PM ET or See Unexpected Angels http://groww.org/chat/sudden.htm Monday 9:00 - 11:00 PM ET & Fridays 11:00 PM- 12:00 midnight ET
alias MA say Misty Angels - Widowed from abusive or controlling relationships - Message Board -> http://groww.org/community/boards/misty.htm
alias PTA say PTA - Parenting Children Alone through Grief - Message Board http://groww.org/community/boards/pta.htm
alias chatwindow say This separate chat window can be resized and moved independent of the browser window containing the chat web page. Use Unfloat to remove this separate chat window and fix it back on the chat web page. Please note by default the size of the floated window is 3/4 the size of your browser window. You can change it as you wish, the size it comes up with just a default start size.
Recommended Preferences:
The last thing we need to set up is the standard preferences to allow ease of use.
Under the applications Edit Menu there is a Preferences selection or it can be opened by the Cmd-R keyboard combination. These preferences area all rather simple to set, but the wrong setting can mean more less enjoyment for your IRC experience.
The following items in each section of preferences should be checked:
General Preferences:
Reconnect when disconnected
Rejoin Channel when kicked
Open Query window on private message
Close windows after manual disconnect
Messages Preferences:
Use '***' instead of Server
Translate Mode Changes
Channel Preferences:
Default Visable Activity Select all boxes and set your font and size to what you like best.
Highlight Preferences:
Hilight message when:
Enter any other key words you wish to have hilighted in
the Text contains box
Text contains own nick
On Highlight:
Use Color (select the color you wish to say on highlighted text)
Speech Preferences:
Don't Speak (I have enough noise around so I don't select anything there).
DCC Preferences:
File Send
Block size Leave as default unless you are on a fast connection.
Default Protocol
MacBinary (Rarely will you need the other)
When manually receiving a file that already exists
Ask
TIA, NAT, Airport
IP Address (Unless you are sure you need to change them leave them as default)
DCC SEND port range (Unless you are sure you need to change them leave them as default)
DCC Auto Preferences:
Auto accept
Chat Never
Files Never
Auto Accept File Receive Folder
Click on the select button and create a new folder where you can find your downloads easily i.e. MacHD:Downloads:IRC
When manually receiving a file that already exists
Rename (if two or more people send you something with the same file name they may contain different contents)
Window Preferences:
Window Layout
Integrated User List - Right
Integrated Input Field
Tool tips - Enable Tool Tips
Channel Bar Preferences:
Channel bar -None (as we can only be in one channel at a time why waste screen space)
Location - Floating Window
Sound Preferences:
Action Sounds - ALL
Beep - Play incoming beeps
Sound Request Preferences:
Sound Play requests - ALL
Sound Send Requests - None (why use extra bandwidth)
MP3 List - None (why use extra bandwidth)
Color Preferences:
BackGround - Best with all white
User List - Select the colors you wish even though Groww does not use these items.
Messages - Select the colors you wish
Color Themes - If you mess up the colors so badly you can't see anything properly you can select the Default, Pastel or Terminal buttons that will set all the colors appropriately. Then you can play with your colors again to find something you like.
Clicking Preferences:
User List - Double click adds to the input line
Contacts List - Double click opens edit dialog
Profile list - Double click opens edit dialog
Logging Preferences: (this is critical in case you need to send logs into Staff)
Auto Logging - active - Save logs in subfolders for every network
Click on the select button and create a new folder where you can find your logs easily i.e. MacHD:Documents:Groww
Options - Include time stamps (Append to existing log files can create huge documents that one can not be opened with SimpleText)
Log Files- Creator - Leave the default Creator (if you wish to have a different Application default to open the log files you would change it here.
LOGGING: Any time you are hosting we request that you log the room and all pc's. If you experience a problem you feel needs to be reported, Always send Name, IP and the entire log(s) with time stamps (please note your Time Zone) to security@groww.org.
Gaurdian Preferences:
Snack Gaurdian - This is for areas or access when you are using in an unsecured area or you may have young kids who you do not want to have access to Snak
Supervisor Password - Caution
IF you forget your password your in trouble.
Protection - Only active if there is a Supervisor
Password
Blocked Channels - not needed at Groww usually
Block Messages when words are found - Use only if you get
something very offensive. Usually not needed at Groww
Personal Preferences: - (most of this is mute on the Groww server but it is still needed for IRC)
Real name - Preferably your name but for privacy sake you may only wish to enter your first name and last initial
Default Nick - your non-hosting nick
Default Alternate Nick - another nick in case of disconnect and server hasn't cleared you or someone else is already logged in with the same Default Nick.
Default Quit Message - Anything you wish others to see when you Quit the application if you are still in the room.
CCTP USERINFO reply - Anything you wish or leave it blank
CCTP HOMEPAGE reply - Leave it default or put in your favorite URL
Setting up Groww Channels:
You are almost ready to try to connect but You still need to add the Groww Channels first.
Everything is case sensitive so type them in exactly as shown with the # sign and without any spaces. Here is the current list we need to add:
#GriefRecovery #GROWWforWidowed2 #EnabledAngels #FallenAngels #GADD #GuidingAngels #GuidingforYouth #GoldenAngels #HeveanlyAngels #KindredAngels #LivingWithCancer #ReluctantAngels #StormyAngels #TenderAngels #TimelessAngels #SilencedAngels #SpecialAngels #UnexpectedAngels
The easiest way to set up channels is to go to the File Menu and Click on Join or it can be opened by the Cmd-K keyboard combination.
When the Join window opens You will see many channels already there but those are default from the install. If you do not plan on visiting other IRC communities you may feel free to highlight and delete any or all of them.
Join Window:
Click on the Add Button, A Favorite Channel window pops up.
Favorite Channel Window
Name: copy one name from above and paste it in or manually type it in (case sensitive so type them in exactly as shown above)
Topic: Leave Blank
Preferred Connection - Use the drop down menu to select Groww or GrowwHost connection you created earlier.
Show in Channel menu under the Tools menu - Check if you wish to change rooms only rapidly under the same network connection (If one is set Default for Groww and another is set Default for GrowwHost you may run into problems if you don't disconnect first)
Click Ok until you are back at the Join Window.
Repeat the Add sequence for all the channels you wish to add.
When you are done you should see something similar to this:
Connecting:
When you press Join Snak will attempt to connect to the IRC server and join the channel. To do so it uses the information in a connection profile.
Snak comes with several predefined profiles that can be inspected or edited from the profile list (Cmd-K). This list also shows the connection status so you can see when you are online.
When Snak connects to the IRC server it will open the channel window, and optionally a console window where you can see the progress of the connection. Any startup actions associated with this profile will automatically be started. You can only send and receive messages once the connection is fully open. The best way to change from being you to being a host quickly is to leave the application open and close the connection in the File menu, then click on join again and highlight the channel and change the network connection profile from Groww to GrowwHost if needed, then click join.
For Basic Usage and commands please refer to the Snak Help menu or the manual.
If you have further Problems or troubles please contact the Groww Host trainer or the WebMaster If they can not get a timely answer than they can contact me with particulars to find the best solution.