Listed next to "public" are channels, when activated anything you type into the listbox (the long skinny rectangle to the left of the colors) will show up in that channel. Text will not actually be sent until you hit the Enter key.

Listed next to "private" are IRC Server Status messages and private message sessions between you and another person which will only be seen by the two of you. When someone sends you a private message (also known as a "whisper") a new highlighted source label will appear. To see what they typed just click on it. To reply to it just type in the listbox and hit Enter to send it.

The default source when first started is the current channel you have joined. You can change the current source by clicking on on a label next to the public/private arrows. Text which you type in and send only applies to the visible source window. You can close a source by using the right mouse button when the pointer is over a source label. The Status cannot be closed.

There is a history feature to the listbox text you have typed in which makes repeating (or repairing) something you have previously typed very easy. You can navigate the previously typed lines using the up and down keyboard arrows and move within the text using the left and right arrows. It's just as if you had typed it by hand all over again!

By clicking on a nickname in the right hand pane (the channel member listing) and then clicking the right mouse button you can perform various functions such as WhoIs or Query (private chat) and some channel operator functions. WhoIs will report to the Status window as will Ping, Time, Version and Finger.

The Channels button at the top of the IRC window will list the available channels on the chat network. You can join listed channels by double clicking on the name as long as the owner of the channel hasn't restricted access. You can also join a channel by typing "/join channelname" into the textbox where "channelname" is the name of the channel you wish to join. If the channel name doesn't exist, it will be created with you as the Channel Operator (chanop) and you will have channel owner powers over that channel.

NOTE: Railfan.net uses the ZUH IRC Network (both hosted by Blue Moon) which is a public IRC network and not limited to railfans only. IRC is a Real-Time Interactive Chat Medium which can on occasion lead to problems. ZUH.Net, Railfan.net and Blue Moon Internet Corp cannot be held responsible for individual users' actions while in IRC! While every attempt is made to keep the peace there are occasions when unruly users can cause problems. Server Operators can help deal with troublemakers, "/join ZUH" or "/join BlueMoon" if you really need more help.

Advanced Usage

Chanops have the power to kick out obnoxious users, ban users, change the channel topic, set the channel modes and grant and rescind chanop status from other users. Chanops are the channel "moderators" and if you are granted chanop status in a channel you should use your chanop powers sparingly lest you incur the wrath of the SERVER Operators!

Channel Modes can be set if you have Chanop status. Users with chanop status will have an "@" to the left of their name. If you see a message such as "SoAndSo sets mode +o on Someone" that means that user "Someone" has been granted chanop status. if a chanop sets the channel mode to "+m" it means the channel is now moderated and only users who are "Voiced" (+v) can talk in the channel. Users who are voiced will have a "+" to the left of their nickname in the channel users pane. Chanops can make a channel invite only, invite users to the channel, give Voice to users on a moderated (+m) channel, set a maximum limit on the total number of users allowed into the channel at one time (+l), set the topic for the channel, kick and ban users from the channel and various other functions. See the Help Links for more information on this very involved topic. For chanops to set a channel topic they would type "/topic #channelname " and the topic will be displayed above the channel window. Note that the "#" in front of the channelname is VERY important, it's part of the IRC protocol!

URLs which are visible can be opened in a new browser window by double-clicking on them. When any message comes into a source window which is not visible that source label will change to a highlighted color until you click on it.

URLs which are visible can be opened in a new browser window by double-clicking on them.

Smileys are small emoticons which appear if you type certain characters. You can See a Smiley Chart HERE.

To open a private chat with someone you can type the IRC Command "/query nickname" and replace nickname with their current "screen name" in IRC. You can also open a private chat with someone on your current channel using the right button mouse menu when your mouse pointer is over their nickname or by double clicking on their nickname.

If you "drag select" text by clicking on the left mouse button and then moving the mouse it will be copied to a separate clipboard window where it can be further manipulated. From this window you can drag select portions and use the right mouse button menu to copy, cut and paste to and from other applications as well as the IRC text entry line. Each time you drag select on a source it will open a new clipboard widow.

IRC Commands are prefixed with a slash (/) and allow you to perform various functions by directly communicating with the IRC Server. "/msg Henry Hi there!" is a way to send a private message of "Hi there!" to the user who is using the nick name "Henry." See the Help Links at the bottom of the page for detailed information on various IRC Commands and how they are used.

The Ban function can lead to problems because it will prevent anyone from anywhere from joining the channel with that nickname. If "Joe" is banned then someone else who uses the nickname Joe won't be able to get in at a later time. The ban on "Joe" needs to be lifted before anyone using the name "Joe" can get into the channel.

If you try a command an it doesn't work, be sure to check the Status window for diagnostic messages. Most common problems include failing to type a # in front of a channel name (not always needed) or forgetting to type in a nickname or channel name as the first argument to a command.

It is impossible to describe everything you can do in IRC here, there are just too many different things available. If you want to learn more, check the links at the bottom of the page.

Text inside angle brackets (< and >) are required arguments, don't type the angle brackets and make sure to use a forward slash, not a backslash!

ame <action> - send an action to all active channels

amsg <message> - send a message to all active channels

away <message> - configure the away status

clear - clear the window

ctcp <command> <nick> - send a ctcp request to the given nick

dcc <command> <nick> - send a dcc request to the given nick

disconnect - disconnect from the server

echo - echo the specified text to the active source

hop - leave and rejoin the active channel

ignore <nick> - ignore the specified nick

j <channel> - join the given channel

join <channel> - same as j

kick <channel> <nick> - kick the given nickname from ther channel (chanop)

leave - leave the active source window

me <action> - send an action to the active source

mode <channel|yournick> - change your user mode or a channel (chanop) mode

msg <channel|nick> - send a message to the given channel or nickname

nick <newnick> - change your nickname

notice <channel|nickname> <message> - send a notice to the given target

onotice <message> - send a notice to all chanops at the given target

part - same as leave

ping <nickname> - CTCP ping the given nickname

query <nickname> - query the given nickname

quit - same as disconnect, but with the given message

raw <command> - send a raw IRC command to the server - see Help Links

server <servername> - connect to the given server

sleep - freeze the interpreter (program) for the given amount of seconds

topic <#channel> <topic> - change the given #channel's topic (chanop)

unignore <nickname> - unignore the specified nick

url <url> - open the given url on a new browser window

Links will open in a new window

IRChelp.org Internet Relay Chat Help Archive

ZUH IRC Network FAQ