First things first--due to the recent upgrade and the switch from iChat to GlobalChat the help file information in my first article, "Using the New Chatroom Software," is no longer accurate. When you click on the help button (red question mark in the iChat/GlobalChat version), you now get a "page not found," message. Instead, go to the GlobalChat web site: www.globalchat.com. Click the button labeled "Support." On the support page you need to click the link for "documentation." You then click "Rooms 6.0 User Guide." This will open a slow-loading, clunky, 51-page .pdf file. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat reader installed to use this file. Don't worry, you probably do have it even if you don't know it--it’s bundled with operating systems and browsers most of the time. If not, there is a link to download it.

The first article taught you to use the basic features. Now we can dig deeper into the chatware and explore the advanced features, some that work with all the chatware versions and some that only work with certain versions.

The "/" Commands--the most useful of the chatware's advanced features

With these commands you can--no matter what software version you are using--ask questions in forums, set up a buddy list, send private messages, go to the room one of your buddies is in, create customized emotions, and more.

To use these commands you type a backslash and the name of the command, for example, "/ask" allows you to ask questions in the forum. To ask how to use the chatware you would type "/ask How do I use the new chat room software?" and the moderator would receive your question so that he could tell you to read these articles and give you the links.

Here are a few of the most useful commands. The full list is on pages 43-47 of the help file, I suggest that you print these pages to keep next to your computer for reference.

• /ask: To ask a question during the forum. This works in all the versions even if you had a glitch in the JAVA download so that you have no question button.

• /emote: This is an adjunct to your emotions list. You can type "/emote smile" and the screen will show "You smile," just as if you had double-clicked smile on the list. You can also simply type "/smile" for the same effect. The advantage of the /emote command is that you can use it to create custom emotions. If you want to grin sheepishly rather than evilly (/grin), or mischievously (/misgrin), you can type "/emote grins sheepishly" and that is what will come up on the screen.

• /tell: This sends a private message to a user of your choice. If you wanted to tell a user named "bookshark" (BTW--as far as I know there is no bookshark at the time I'm writing this), that he has a cool screenname you would type "/tell bookshark You have a cool screenname." Bookshark would receive that as a private message that no other users could see. It’s important to remember to use private messages when you are in the auditorium for a forum.

• /exit: The way out of the room for the versions that have no exit button.

• /go: One way to get to a different room. When in Room 1 you could type "/go auditorium" to get to the auditorium.

• /goto: To get to a different room as with /go or to go to the room a particular user is in. "/goto bookshark" would take you to the room where your friend bookshark is.

For many more of these commands see pages 43-47 of the .pdf help file.

• Private messages: Each version has several ways to send a private message--to talk to a single person without having your comments show in the text window. Its important to use private messages during forums so that your comments won't interrupt the speaker's flow of information. The simplest way is to double-click on the person's name. In iChat/GlobalChat and in JAVA your private messages will be in a separate window. In JAVA Lite and HTML they are in different colored text in your main window but they don't show in anyone else's window. Warning: JAVA has a PM glitch that makes your PM window disappear. If you minimize everything else you will find the missing window on your desktop. The company is working on this problem.

iChat/GlobalChat Additional Features

• Buddies: Buddies in the drop down menu (black triangle), brings up a box where you can create a list of usernames. Anytime one of the people on your buddy list signs on you will be alerted -- even if he or she is not in the same room you are.

• Loading and Editing Emotions: The drop down menu, includes an emotions option. You click this to get a box where you can load and delete emotions to create a personalized list. You can also access this box by right clicking in the emotions window.

• Create Private Rooms: Also in the drop down menu. This lets you create a private room which can either be publicly accessible or accessed by invitation only. A private room is good if you have planned to meet someone for a brainstorming or critique session and don't want to interfere with or be interrupted by the general conversation in room 1.

• Preferences: At the bottom of the drop-down menu. This pops up a box that lets you set your font, your color scheme, your profile, etc.

• Sounds and Links: Right clicking in the box into which you type brings up a menu that says insert URL and insert sound. Insert sound appears to be disabled at this time, but insert URL brings up a box that permits you to create a clickable link for other iChat/Global Chat users. You enter the URL, www.institutechildrenslit.com, into the top slot and the name of the link, ICL, into the bottom slot.

• Save to File: Right clicking on the main window where text appears brings up a menu with several options. One is "save to file"--very useful if you've been getting help with a problem and don't want to forget anything.

JAVA Additional Features

• Insert Sound: Click the insert sound button and choose a sound from the menu. People who have elected to receive sounds will hear that sound. Others will only

see the sound code wrapped in the same symbols as the thought button makes.

• Configuration: The triangle with a dot in it brings up a box that allows you to set some things and to download the full emotions list. You can't permanently

customize the emotions list in JAVA.

• Modify Profile: The easiest way to set your default chatware version. I don't personally like putting much personal information into the profile but your

opinion may vary.

JAVA Lite

JAVA Lite has no additional features beyond those discussed in the first article.

However, there is a change in the upgraded version. It no longer has a modify

profile button or a help button. However, you can access the help file in the way

described at the beginning of this article.

HTML

HTML has a modify profile button. This works just like the JAVA version. Don't

be afraid to experiment with these features. Mastering the advanced chatware

features will help you make the most of this resource.