Instructions for installing Xchat and connecting to IRC chat on Moodle

Windows Instructions

This section describes installation and usage of the XChat IRC client, however any other IRC client will work.

Installing XChat

Download XChat by clicking here.
Install XChat by double clicking the xchat-2.6.8-1.exe file you just downloaded.
Follow the wizard to complete the installation. We recommend you simply click "Next" at each part of the installation wizard to use the default options, but make sure you check "Create a desktop icon".
Whenever you want to run XChat simply double-click the XChat icon on your desktop.

Connecting to the IRC server with XChat

Open XChat if it is not already open by clicking the XChat icon on your desktop.
When the program launchs for the first time a "Network List" configuration window opens. This graphical menu is ment to make IRC easier for the average user however it may just create confusion. Turn off this option by checking the box near the bottom of the window that says "Skip network list on startup" and click Close. Then reopen XChat by double-clicking the XChat icon on your desktop.
The window that opens this time is the main XChat program.
- The area along the left side is the channel tree which shows all the channels you have joined
- The text box at the top is the Topicbar, ignore it
- The large window with the scrollbar is your main display window. The information that is displayed here depends on which option in the channel tree is selected. If the channel name is selected chat information will be displayed, if the server name is selected connection information will be displayed. Please reference the attached images for a better representation.
- The bottom text box is where you enter information. The name to the left of it is your Nick (username). In this box is where you type chat messages and commands. All commands begin with a "/", everything else is sent to the chat as a message (if you are joined to a channel)
Type the following commands into the text box at the bottom of the window. Note that all commands begin with a "/"
1. Set your nick (username) by typing
```
/nick YourName
```
  - Replace "YourName" with your last name followed by the initial of your first name. Use only letters, no special characters or numbers. If you typed everything correctly you will see your nick appear to the left of the textbox.
2. Connect to the IRC server by typing
```
/server moodle.dyc.edu 9111
```
  - If the connection fails double check your firewall settings and make sure port 9111 outgoing is allowed
3. Display all the available channels (chat rooms) on the server by typing
```
/list
```
  - Notice that all channel names begin with a "#", this is to identify them as channels. There is a channel for each online class, find that one that is for yours.
4. Connect to the channel for your class by typing
```
/join #ChannelName
```
  - Replace "ChannelName" with the channel name for your class, don't forget the "#".
You should now be joined to the online chat, all connected users are displayed in the window on the right side of the application window. You may have to move the window divider to be able to see the chat members. To type a message into the chat simply type it into the chat box window and hit the return key on your keyboard.

Mac OS X Instructions

This section describes installation and usage of the X-Chat Aqua IRC client for Mac OS X, however any other IRC client will work.

Installing X-Chat Aqua

Download the X-Chat Aqua by clicking here. Depending on which version of OS X and which browser you are using it should automatically mount the downloaded image file which contains the X-Chat Aqua folder, if it doesn't simply double click the X-Chat_Aqua.0.16.0 image file on your desktop to open and mount it.
Inside the X-Chat Aqua folder is the X-Chat Aqua application file. You can drag this to your Applications folder (which is the Mac equivalent of installing an application) or open it in its current location.

Connecting to the IRC server with X-Chat Aqua

Open X-Chat Aqua from wherever you chose to save it, or from the original X-Chat Aqua folder.
Two windows will open, the top window is the Server List window. Close it because it will probably only cause confusion.
Type the following commands into the text box at the bottom of the window. Note that all commands begin with a "/"
1. Set your nick (username) by typing
```
/nick YourName
```
  - Replace "YourName" with your last name followed by the initial of your first name. Use only letters, no special characters or numbers. If you typed everything correctly you will see your nick appear to the left of the textbox.
2. Connect to the IRC server by typing
```
/server moodle.dyc.edu 9111
```
  - If the connection fails double check your firewall settings and make sure port 9111 outgoing is allowed
3. Display all the available channels (chat rooms) on the server by typing
```
/list
```
  - Notice that all channel names begin with a "#", this is to identify them as channels. There is a channel for each online class, find that one that is for yours.
4. Connect to the channel for your class by typing
```
/join #ChannelName
```
  - Replace "ChannelName" with the channel name for your class, don't forget the "#".
You should now be joined to the online chat, all connected users are displayed in the window on the right side of the application window. To type a message into the chat simply type it into the chat box window and hit the return key on your keyboard.

Basic IRC Commands

For a more comprehensive list of IRC commands please read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_IRC_commands

Server

/server moodle.dyc.edu 9111

Connects you to the IRC server. The above example is exactly what you should type (or copy & paste) into your client.

If the above command returns a connection error double check your firewall settings and make sure port 9111 outgoing is allowed

Nick

/nick John_Doe

Sets or changes your username/nickname

Use your last name followed by the initial of your first name. Use only letters, no special characters or numbers. At this point we are not forcing registration of user accounts so you must set your username/nick manually.

List

/list

List all channels

Join

/join #ChannelName

Join/enter a channel (chat rooms) on the server (Replace "ChannelName" with the name of the channel you want to join)

Please note that a "#" is needed in front of the channel name

Part

/part #ChannelName

Leave the channel "#ChannelName"

Please note that a "#" is needed in front of the channel name

Quit

/quit

Disconnects you from the IRC server