Getting started
From TalkingIRC
This document should serve as a quick start document to the TalkingIRC network or any other network. It is not an IRC manual; please read the documentation included with your IRC client and search the web for more information. If you would like to see IRC tutorials or documents here, please contact us. Typically, we write documents regarding issues or questions that we are asked frequently.
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[edit] Introduction
You connect to the TalkingIRC network by utilizing an IRC client. The client is the program that is run to connect to a server; for example, your web browser or email program is a client. Your email program connects to an email server to fetch your email. IRC is theoretically the same--a client is used to connect to the IRC server.
If you already have an IRC client installed on your machine, you may connect to our network by using the link at the top of the main screen-- Connect to our network with a client already installed on your machine. This works under Windows but not sure about other OS's.
[edit] Web Chat
If you do not wish to download an IRC client, you may use our Java chat client. This client allows you to connect to our network through your web browser so that downloading anything is unnecessary. If you wish to utilize our network via this method, please find the link to it in the sidebar. This is the easiest method for sighted users.
Note - The Java client is not very accessible for use with screen reading software. If you are blind or visually-impaired, skip to the next section.
[edit] Using an IRC Program
[edit] Blind/Visually-Impaired
If you are visually-impaired, there are several solutions available. The best one, of course, is the one that we have designed--tIRC. To jump to information relevant to tIRC with JFW or Window-Eyes, press the 'H' key until you reach the TalkingIRC Client heading in the sidebar. Here you will find a download link. Activate this link for further instructions. Alternatively, activate this link to jump there: Download tIRC.
There are other accessible mIRC plug-ins available that are designed by other people. One of the best is Sjams available from http://www.randylaptop.com. Please refer to documentation on that site for assistance configuring it.
[edit] Using IRC Under the Windows Operating System
The most powerful and flexible way of accessing IRC is with an IRC client program. The most popular client for Windows is mIRC. Once you have acquired it and have it installed, you may access our network by entering the following command:
/server irc.talkingirc.net
in the mIRC text area. Please refer to the documentation included with mIRC for in-depth instructions.
There are many other IRC clients available for Windows; simply search the web if you are unsatisfied with mIRC.
[edit] Using IRC Under the *Nix Operating System
If you are using Gnome or an equivalent GUI system for *Nix, you should be able to obtain IRC clients through its program add/remove facility. For Gnome, we recommend XChat or Gaim.
If you're a traditional console user, you should be able to invoke Epic from the command line by using the following command:
epic irc.talkingirc.net
This will connect you to our network with your shell login as the nickname. Simply add something else before the network address in the command if you wish to use another nickname. Please don't come on our network as root or bad things might happen to you!
alternatively, for console use, we recommend Irssi which can be downloaded from http://www.irssi.org. This is a console-based client with the power and flexibility of mIRC.
[edit] Using IRC Under Other Operating Systems
I am only familiar with the operating systems detailed above. If you are using another operating system, such as a Mac or something on a phone, then you should be able to use Google to search for something. Feel free to add to this article if you find anything useful.
[edit] Conclusion
Hopefully, you've connected and are now chatting with us. If there are any problems, please refer to the TalkingIRC FAQ document. Searching the web is usually helpful. Alternatively, you may visit the Contact Us section. We try to respond to all emails but please be patient.
Thanks for using TalkingIRC!
ace 17:39, 4 May 2007 (CDT)
