How to Chat: Step-by-Step Instructions About This Page:

[Jennifer Marx]

Welcome to the PassPorter Chat Rooms!



Chatting is fun and easy for everyone! You don't need any special skills or knowledge to join a chat, and we encourage all our members to drop in on a chat now and then. Chats are a great way to get to know fellow members and have natural conversations.



To begin chatting in the PassPorter chat rooms, follow these steps:



1. Click on the Community link, then click Enter Chat Rooms. If you're already in our community area (the message boards), you can click the Chat link at the top of every window. Or simply go to: http://www.passporterboards.com/ubb/chat.php



2. A window similar to the one you're reading now will render on your screen. It could take several seconds for the chat room to fully load. If all goes well, you'll see the chat window appear, then log you in automatically, and presto ... you're in the chat room! If things go wrong, here are some solutions:



* Says "it cannot proceed." This usually means you need to be logged in first. Login, then return to the Chat area. If you don't have a login name and password yet, you can join quickly and easily. To use our chat room, you must be a community member.



* If you get a gray box, a red box with an X in it, or nothing at all, this usually means there's a problem with your Java. To find a variety of solutions to problems like this, visit: http://client.sigmachat.com/help_connection.html



* If you still have problems, post your details in this forum or contact us at hosts@passporter.com



3. Once you're in the chat room, the best thing to do is say hello! To do this, put your cursor in the light yellow box in the chat window (it's right under the "Enter your message" line). Type something simple, like "Hello everyone!" then press the Enter key or click the Send button. In a moment you will see your text appear in the chat window above.



4. To see who else is in the chat room, take a look at the list with the green background on the right. Everyone who is using a chat room appears in this list, including those who may be in anterooms. Guide names appear in red, bold letters to help identify them when they are in the room. You can right-click on any name in the list to send them a private message, ignore them in this chat, or view their profile. If you enter a chat room when others are not present, check our chat schedule and return when we have a chat planned.



5. Here's an explanation of each of the buttons and menus in the chat room. The URL List menu is a handy menu of URLs (web addresses) that you may hear referenced during chats. If you choose one from the menu, it will open that web site in a new window on your computer only so you can continue chatting. The Help button opens a detailed How-To and Help page, which we recommend everyone read. The Colors button gives you the ability to choose a color for your text as it appears in the chat room to you and others (members like to choose unique colors while in a chat to identify one another.) The Float button places the chat window in a smaller window, allowing you to do other things while you chat and to make the chat window bigger. The Logout button logs you out of the chat room. The Main Room menu gives you access to the main room (entry room) as well as to any anterooms (sub-rooms) that may have been created. Note that some anterooms may be private and require a password -- if you try to enter and are told you cannot, that means it is private.



6. You have several chat settings that may improve your chat experience. Right-click in the main chat display area to get a drop-down menu with several choices. Use Font Size to make your text smaller or larger (only for you). Use Colors to change your chat color. Use timestamp to turn on/off the feature that places the current time next to each chat line. Use Audio to turn on/off chat sounds. You can also access Float, Help, and Logout.



7. While you're chatting and want to reply to someone or ask someone a question, click their name in the chat window. Not only does this put their member name right in your text box, but when you send the message with their name in it, they will hear a beep (assuming their chat sounds are on). This is a helpful way of getting their attention. Note, however, that if a name has any special characters, such as underscores or asterisks, you cannot use the full name -- type just the first part up to the asterisk if you want their computer to beep. For example, instead of Jennifer_Watson, use just Jennifer.



8. To send a private message to another member in the chat rooms, either double-click or right-click the member name in the member list and choose Send Message, or type /msg and their full name and the private message right in the chat window. A small window will appear -- use this to send your messages back and forth.



9. To create an anteroom, type /create and the room name. For example: /create Autopia. Once you create it, you are instantly moved to it and its name appears in the Main Room menu for others to see and join. If you want to create a private room, type /create, the room name, and a password. For example: /create Utildors walt. To join a private room, type /join, the room name, and the password. For example: /join Utilidors walt. Once the last person leaves an anteroom, it closes and its name is removed from the room list.