mirc: breaking down the walls.

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:00:23 -0500

As I explained in my first entry, I love IRC, and mIRC is my favorite irc client. For some reason, a lot of people find mIRC confusing at first. I admit, the gui isn't 100% explanatory, but with a bit of tinkering about I have become pretty confident in my mIRC abilities.

Now, be aware, mIRC is a piece of software that only works in Windows. You can use programs like Wine or Darwine to make it work in Linux or OS X. You can also use XChat for Linux or Colloquy or Xchat Aqua for OS X.

Step One: Download
First of all, you want to download a copy of mIRC. I recommend you get the official version. There are other versions of mIRC floating around the internet with built in scripts and stuff, but hey, how can you learn to script if you don’t do it yourself.

Anyways, you can download mirc from here

It may say that you have X number of days left in your trial, but don’t let that bother you. After your trial is up you just have to click continue to use the program. I don’t think many people actually PAY for mirc.

Step Two: Install

I am assuming I dont need pictures for this part. After you download the program, double click mirc<version number>.exe.

1)At the Welcome to mIRC Setup Wizard screen click Next >
2)Read License Agreement (but who really does that?) and click I Agree
3)Choose your install location, I suggest you keep it the default folder, and click Next
4)Choose the components you want to install. I recommend you do full. Click Next
5)You can choose to add desktop shortcuts and things like that if you want. Click Next
6)Verify your choices and click Install.
7)Once the install is done, check the box that says run mIRC and click finish!

Step Three: Setup

Once you run mIRC it will tell you have a certain number of days left in your trial. Dont worry
about this, it still works fine after
the date is up.
Now click continue.

A box will pop up asking you to
fill in your info. Do so.
You don’t really have to use
your real full name or
email address.
I have never put real info here
and I haven’t had any problems
using the program.

One of the most important parts
of mIRC is your nickname. This
is how you will be identified
in chatrooms. You can very easily
change it at anytime, but put the
one you want to use most in the
nickname field. Put your second
favorite nickname in the
alternative field. If someone on
the IRC server is currently using
your first choice, this one will be
used instead.

Note: Many servers allow you to
register your nickname. This
protects your nickname with a
password so that only you can use it.

There are many, many more options you can configure, but I will cover those later.

And thats it!

Step Four: The Server

Now, lets say you want to talk with me and the
rest of the people in the #square
(all IRC channels, or chatrooms, are #<something>)
IRC channel. First you need to connect to the server.
The server is the network that has the channel on it.

My channel is on the systemnet server. To connect
to it, you have to tell mIRC where to go.
To connect to a server, you need to type in the
command

/server <server address>

in this case it is

/server irc.systemnet.info

After you type that, press enter, and if everything
goes ok, mIRC will connect to the server!

If Windows Firewall asks for premission, just
allow it to connect.

A ton of seemingly random text will pop up. Scroll
up and read this. This window is called the status
window. If you scroll up you can read the MOTD
or Message of the Day. This usually contains some important rules.

Step Five: The Channel

Finally! We can start to talk to people....after we join the channel! Now you have to tell mIRC what channel to join. do this by typing

/join #<channel>

in this case it is

/join #square

Hit enter and kablam! You joined the channel!

You can join as many channels as you want, but
some servers have limits on how many you can
join. To see a full list of channels, type /list in
any mIRC window. If there are many channels
on a server this may take a while. You can see
a list of channels and servers you are on on the
bar on the side, or on the top. You can join
another channel by typing /join #<something>
in any mIRC window. You will join the channel on the server that you are currently under on the side bar.

To connect to another server, but not disconnect from the server you are on, type /server -m <server>.

Side Note: User Modes
The last thing I will explain are user modes. On the left side of the channel
window is the user list. You may notice some funny symbols next to the
nicknames. I will explain them!

~ is the Owner(s). They are the most powerful people in the room. They
are the people who created the channel. They can kick you and ban you
from the channel.

@ is for Operators, or Ops. They can also kick and ban people.

% is for Half-Ops. They also can kick and ban :P

+ (not pictured) is for voiced users. They have the ability to talk even if the channel is muted. It is usually given to respected and long time users.

No symbol means you are just a regular user.

Your status in one channel has nothing to do with another channel, and it generally pisses the Ops off if you beg to be made an operator.

Summary

Well, thats it. You now know how to use mirc. So you better download and install mIRC, connect to the server and join my channel :P

Congratulations, you just learned a new geek skill!

Introblog

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:55:31 -0500

Hello!

I’m square. I hang out on irc a lot. I’ve had this domain for a while and have done absolutely nothing with it. Hopefully iWeb can inspire me to actually use the domain :P

I like anime, but not in a weaboo kind of way. I dont like Deathnote so dont mention it. If you haven't seen or read BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad, you should. Dont watch the english version though. I dont think they did a very good job translating it and keeping the essence intact at all.

I am a fan of technology. I used to be a PC guy, and I still am, for somethings, but after using OS X for a few months, I am pretty sold. I keep Windows on a partition just in case I need it, but that is happening less and less...

I know how to do general tasks in Ubuntu, but I’m not one of those people.

I love Pokemon, and not in that dumb scene kind of way. I started playing back in ’98, and have been continuously since. I’m just waiting for Platinum to come out now.

My favorite band (one of) is the Apples in Stereo.

I dont want to make this post too long and pointless, so I will close now by saying, if you want to chat, meet me in #square on irc.systemnet.info OR on irc.purplesurge.net if you are IRC clever ;) I suggest mIRC for windows and Colloquy for OS X. And I guess XChat for linux.

And Finally,
A video.

Ladybird Girl
by The Pillows

square...blog?!

mirc: breaking down the walls.

Introblog