Table of Contents
EZIRC Table of Contents

Welcome

Getting Started

The Main Window

Playing Go-Moku

Private Messaging

More About IRC Commands

Coming Soon

IRC Server Sites


Welcome
Welcome to EZIRC

Thank you for using EZIRC. This program is a simple and easy-to-use IRC chat client now with the Go-Moku (five in a row) game built-it. Also new is the Private Conversation feature. IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat and is the protocol used for chatting on the Internet. EZIRC works under Windows 3.x, Windows NT, and Windows 95. There is a 16 bit version (EZIRC16) and a 32 bit version (EZIRC32). Use EZIRC16 with Windows 3.x and EZIRC32 with Windows NT/95 (or Windows 3.x running Win32s). To register your copy of EZIRC, send $15 US to…

Surfing Squirrel Productions, Inc.

3310 South Valley View Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89102

USA

Be sure to include your Email and postal addresses, what version of Windows you are using, and which version of EZIRC you are using.

While we are developing EZIRC you may, at times, see debugging messages on the screen. This is no cause for concern. They are simply used to aid in development.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please write to us at "rocky@surfingsquirrel.com".


Getting Started

To run EZIRC you should have…

Windows 3.x (EZIRC16 or EZIRC32 with Win32s installed), Windows NT (EZIRC32), or Windows 95 (EZIRC32).

WinSock installed.

Access to the Internet (Just kidding).

If you use a Program Item or Shortcut to access EZIRC, be sure to set the Working Directory or Start In to the directory containing EZIRC.

Three quick-and-simple steps to get started:

First, click on the "Setup" button and tell EZIRC a few things it needs to know.

Nickname: The name people see while you're chatting. Most all IRC servers only accept nicknames up to nine characters long containing no spaces. For that reason EZIRC will automatically convert all spaces to '_' and truncate the nickname to nine characters.

Realname: People can ask the server <Who is 'Nickname"?> and it will reply with the information you fill in here. You can use this to tell people a little more about yourself like "Rocky from Las Vegas". There's no need to disclose any more information than that.

Password: You should leave this blank unless you are connecting to an IRC server that requires a password for access.

IRC Server: This is the name of the IRC Server Site to which you would like to connect. You can use an IP address here if you need to.

IRC Port: The standard port for IRC is 6667.

Show Channel List after Connect: If this is checked, the channel list will automatically appear after you connect (same as pressing the "List" button).

Next, click the "Connect" button. There may be a brief delay before the connection completes. When the connection completes the "Connect" button will change to "Disconnect". Shortly there after the server should welcome you with the message of the day.

And finally, click the "List" button to see a list of available chat "Channels". In IRC jargon, the word "Channel" is used to describe a chat "Room" where people gather for discussion (or banter). Select the one you like an click the "Join" button. While the list of channels names are being loaded from the server, the display may jump around a bit. This is because it is being dynamically sorted. The title of the list window will let you know when the load is complete.

Now you're ready to chat away. Just enter anything you would like to say in the box at the bottom of the EZIRC window and press the Enter key to send it. Go on, make some new friends. Remember…no one will know you have blue hair.


Main Window
The Main Window

In chat mode, EZIRC is divided into three areas…

The top-left area (just below the buttons) displays any chat text from the current channel.

The bottom-left area is where you type. If at some point you don't see a blinking cursor or find that the keys you are typing don't appear, simply click anywhere in the bottom-left box. This text is sent to everyone in the channel as soon as you press the "Enter" key.

The right area displays a list of users in the current chat channel. Click on a nickname to start a private conversation.

In game mode, EZIRC is divided into four areas…

The top-left area (just below the buttons) displays the game board.

The top-right area displays a list of users in the current game channel. Click on a nickname to invite someone to play a game.

The bottom-right area is where you type. If at some point you don't see a blinking cursor or find that the keys you are typing don't appear, simply click anywhere in the bottom-left box. This text is sent to everyone in the channel as soon as you press the "Enter" key.


Playing Go-Moku

To play Go-Moku you must first…

Connect to the Internet using your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Connect to "irc.surfingsquirrel.com". To do this click on the "Setup" button and enter "irc.surfingsquirrel.com" for the IRC Server and "6667" for the IRC Port. Click "OK" to close the Setup Dialog. Then click the "Connect" button to connect to our server.

Join the "#Go-Moku" game channel. To do this click the "List" button, select the "#GoMoku" line with the mouse and click the "Join" button. The Go-Moku game board will automatically appear. You are now in the Go-Moku game channel.

Everyone in the Go-Moku game channel will have the Go-Moku game board up so you can play a game with anyone in this channel.

At this point anything you type will be visible to anyone not currently playing a game. You may also be invited to play a game.

To invite someone to play simply click on their nickname in the list at the upper right. EZIRC will then invite them to play and inform you if…

They are currently in a game.

They have just invited someone else.

They accept your invitation.

They decline your invitation.

Once you have found a partner, you are automatically switched to private conversation mode. Anything you type will only be visible to your opponent. Also, the only messages you will see will be those from your opponent.

EZIRC will toss a coin for you and tell you who goes first. To make a move, just click on any intersecting lines of the board. If you click on the board and it is not your turn, you will hear a beep.

EZIRC will tell you your opponent has moved with a beep and a yellow marker in your opponents last move. If at any time you see a yellow marker, it is your move. Once you make a move, the yellow marker will go away.

Playing Go-Moku is quite easy. The person who goes first is black, the other white. You take turns putting down colored markers on the line intersections until someone has five in a row. EZIRC will tell you when someone wins or when the game reaches a stalemate. The loser will get to go first in the next game. You can play as many games as you like with your opponent.

To leave the game with your opponent, simply click on their highlighted name or click on someone else's name to invite them.


Private Messaging
Private Conversation

EZIRC now supports private conversations. This feature allows you to send private messages to another person. This is a standard feature of IRC chat servers and should work regardless of what server you are connected to or what chat client the person you are chatting with is using.

To use this feature, simply click on the person's nickname in the list at the upper right. EZIRC will inform you that private conversation is on. Now anything you type will be sent to only that person.

To turn off the private conversation, just click on the nickname again. EZIRC will inform you that private conversation is off.

To switch to another person, just click on the new name and EZIRC will switch to a private conversation with the new person.

While you are in private conversation mode, you will only see messages from the person selected in the names list, or private messages sent to you by other chatters.

Private messages are always marked with a "-Private" unless the message came from the person with whom you are currently in a private conversation.

If you are in a private conversation with someone and they send you a public message (one that everyone in the channel can read), it will be marked as "-Public".

When you are playing a game, like Go-Moku, you will automatically be in private conversation mode (with your opponent) and will receive no other messages from anyone else.


More About Commands
More About IRC Commands

The buttons at the top of the EZIRC window should be all you need to chat on the Internet. You may, however, use and IRC command by preceding it with a "/".

Here are a few useful IRC commands:

LIST: Once you're connected, you can type "/LIST" (or press the "List" button). This will bring up a list of the channels available from the server to which you are connected. The information will include the name of the channel, the number of people in the channel, and the topic of the channel. Select the one you like and click the "Join" button to enter the channel.

JOIN: To join a channel type "/JOIN" followed by a space and the name of the channel you wish to join. Be sure to include the "#" at the beginning of the channel name. For simplicity sake, EZIRC only allows you to be in one channel at a time. If the channel doesn't exist, it will be added with you as the owner.

To join a different channel, simply type the JOIN command again. EZIRC will automatically remove (PART) you from the channel you were in previously.

PART: To leave a channel, type "/PART" followed by a space and the channel name (with the "#"). On our server you can omit the channel name.

TOPIC: As the owner of a channel you can set a topic for your channel. To set the topic for your channel type "/TOPIC", a space, the name of the channel (with the "#"), a space, then a ":" followed by the new topic. For example:

/TOPIC #myChannel :Come one, come all…let's talk

On our IRC server the channel name and preceding ":" may be omitted. For example:

/TOPIC Come one, come all…let's talk

QUIT: To disconnect from a chat server type "/QUIT", or press the Disconnect button..


Coming Soon
Coming Soon from Surfing Squirrel Productions

We at Surfing Squirrel are developing IRC chat servers and clients that facilitate both intelligent conversation and fun. Be sure to keep an eye on our web site, "www.surfingsquirrel.com", for…

The latest version of EZIRC. We are continually adding new features to our IRC chat client, including more great games.

News on upcoming game tournaments. Match your skills against people from all over the world.

News on upcoming chat events. Talk with guest speakers. Join in thematic discussions or host your own.


Server Sites
IRC Server Sites

irc.colorado.com

irc.funet.fi

irc.prospero.com

irc.surfingsquirrel.com

uk.undernet.org

us.undernet.org