First we may need to get your computer ready. These first three steps aren't needed for lots and lots of people. They are all about how security conscious your computer has been set up to be. Unfortunately, nearly everything we do to beef up security, from car alarms to flying on airplanes to our computers, also makes life a little more complicated. You may want to skip down to here and go ahead and try out the chat room. If everything works fine, you don't need this stuff - but if you hit some rough spots, you can come on back and this section will help you through them.

STEP ONE: WE NEED TO GIVE YOU A COOKIE

Yum! Well, not exactly. A cookie is a tiny bit of information that a website stores on your computer. Some cookies can carry unfortunate "bits" so many people have their computers set to refuse cookies, but our cookie is fat-free and totally needed for you to be part of chat. Let's check to see that you can accept our cookie without putting your computer in any kind of danger.

Step One: Open your browser (psst…the browser is the program you use to look at websites like this one. If you're reading this online, your browser is already open.) Look at the menu bar at the top of your browser screen and click on "Tools." Near the bottom of a longish list of spiffy tools, you'll see "Internet Options" - click on that. It should open a new box on your screen.

Step Two: You're doing great. Now, in this new box, you'll see several tabs. One of those tabs will say "Privacy." Now, you'll either see a slider bar, or you'll see directions for how to see a slider bar. One you see the slider bar, you'll notice it can be set to low, medium, or high. If it is set at the highest level, your computer may not accept cookies at all. If it is set a "low," you're probably at more security risk than you really want to be. Move the slider until it registers "medium." That is sufficient security for most computers, but if you need increased security, you can reset the slider back after your chat sessions. When you have changed your privacy slider, click OK until you return to your browser.

If your browser asks if you are sure you want to change these settings, click YES.

STEP TWO: HOW ACTIVE IS YOUR X?

If you want to use all the nifty features of our chat software, you'll need to enable Active X. However, if you're comfortable with the simpler version of chat (called HTML chat) this will not be necessary. So you need to decide - nifty or simple.

To enable Active X, simply follow the directions here (it even has pictures so it's super simple steps): http://www.institutechildrenslit.com/rx/ws01/iclactivex.shtml

STEP THREE: DO YOU HAVE WINDOWS XP?

If you do, you may have a security setting that forces you to use ONLY the html chat. If you simply cannot seem to connect with anything but html - follow the steps here (and this one has pictures too): http://www.institutechildrenslit.com/iChat_Client_ICL.htm

TIME TO SOLVE YOUR IDENTITY CRISIS

To chat, you need to have a chat identity (in other words, set up a chat account - but don't let the word "account" worry you. There's no charge and we're not collecting the information for nefarious purposes. It's just to give you an identity once you log-in.

You'll create your identity here http://forums.institutechildrenslit.com:6080/chat/data/html/user/addnewuser.shtml - the only information you need to give is your username and password. Since we're not saving that other information, you don't need to give it.

When choosing your username, think of something simple to remember and not too long. You may want to use a variation on your name or your name linked with something you enjoy or simply a word that is meaningful to you. Make sure it's something you don't mind being called if chatters shorten it. For examples, there could be great usernames:

writerbob
kittysmom
luv2read

If folks want to write your name on the fly, they could call you "bob" or "mom" or "luv2" and that isn't likely to be icky for you. These chat names might need a rethink

f34rt2lv
ratlvr
noloser

The first is so complicated, there's every chance you'll forget it. It's also going to be a problem for other chatters so you'll need to simply accept that they won't type it right. You might get fewer private messages with a name like that. The other two may lend chatters to shorten your name to "rat" or "loser" and that might not make you feel so good.

When choosing a password, choose something you know you'll remember. It might be a mix of letters and number (like the first initial of each of your children plus the year you got married) or simply a word that you easily associate (like writergod) - whatever you choose, make a note somewhere of your username and password so you don't forget them (I keep a text file of all my usernames and passwords for chats and message boards).

After you've created the account, you'll use that information to log in here http://forums.institutechildrenslit.com:6080/chat/world/html/login.html

IN THE ROOM - THEN WHAT?

The chat software we use allows you several options at the point of log-in. Some computers work better with one option than another, so we're going to look at each chat choice and how it works.

Ichat

One nice thing about ichat is you can ask a fairly lengthy question during chat forums. Also private messages appear in their own window, which can make it a bit easier to keep private messages private. Unfortunately not everyone can use ichat - AOL and Mac users cannot use ichat.

The window for Ichat looks like this:

Java

Java gives you nice big clearly labeled buttons, but it can be one of the most problematic forms of chat (really, I don't recommend it). The ask window forces you to use very short lines - sometimes you have to ask a succession of "pieces" of your question. The private message window can vanish unexpectedly if you click on any other window.

The window for Java looks like this:

[note: you might notice my window has no place to type a message. I have the problem a lot with Java. Yet another reason to simply skip over this option.

Java Lite

Despite the "lite" in the title, which might think you're getting a shoddy quality of java, this version actually works much better and more consistently. You still get the nice clearly labeled buttons (unfortunately, you also get the short "ask" feature). Private messaging is less frustrating as well.

The window for Java Lite looks like this:

HTML

Virtually anyone can use this version of chat, so if your computer simply refuses to work with any of the java - this gives you a solid (albeit slow) alternative.

The window for html chat looks like this:

OK, Let's Talk Tools

Once you are in the chat, there are a number of tools available to you. First, you can simply chat. To do that, you type your comment into the long rectangular message space at the bottom of your chat screen and click on
SAY/RELOAD (in html chat)
SEND (in ichat)
And for Java Lite, just press your "enter" key. Pressing "enter" will work in ichat and html chat as well.

However, you can do more than simply send messages into the room. You can send messages to the moderator, or to just one other chatter as well. Let's look at those tools.

Getting in the Right Spot

The chat rooms offer three preset rooms - two are available to visitors and one is used only by the moderator for backstage management of open forums and guest speakers. As a visitor, you may enter either the "auditorium" (which is used for attending forums and guest speaker events) or ICL room one (which is used for chatting informally with other students and visitors.) To switch from one room to another, you can

Simply type: /go Auditorium [Note: you MUST capitalize Auditorium]
That will automatically whisk you to the auditorium. Likewise, if you are done in the auditorium, you can type: /go Room1 [Note: you MUST capitalize Room and leave no space between Room and 1]

Alternately, you can use the room changing controls on your toolbar.
In Java, Java Lite, or HTML: Click on "Rooms List" and you will see the list of rooms in the upper part of your screen. Simply click on the room you want to be in.
In ichat: Click on the yellow pirate map and you will see the list of rooms in the upper part of your screen. Simply click on the room you want to be in.

If you need to ask a question during guest chat and open forum chat, you have a number of options. First, you must be in the "Auditorium" which is the room where all guest speakers and open forums take place. Then you can ask your question in several ways…

/ask -- This is your magic command for asking nice long questions when using the "short questions only" version of chat. Simply type /ask then space and type your question. Like this:

Alternately, you can use the question button on your tool bar:
In HTML and Java: Click on the "Ask a Question" button. A question box will appear in the upper half of your screen. You will not be allowed a long question…so you may need to ask your question in "bits" sending each box full one at a time.
In iChat: Click on the picture that looks like a comicbook speech bubble. A new box will pop up. Type your question in that box. Your question can extend beyond the length of the box, it will scroll.

Looking at a URL mentioned in the chatroom.

The upper half of your window can also be used to view other websites. So, if a website url is mentioned in chat, you can look at that site immediately, using the upper half of your screen to see it. To load a website into that screen, you will need to use buttons on your middle tool bar.

In HTML or Java: Click on the "Load Website" button. The upper half of your window will then give you a box for typing in the website url that you want to view (notice that the "http://" part has already been done for you. Simply complete the url and click "view url." The new site will appear in that space.

In iChat you will use the green globe icon - the small green dot closest to the left side of that middle tool bar. A new box will pop up and you will type your url into that box, but the resulting website will appear in the top half of your screen, just as it does in the other chat versions. Sending a Private Message

Sometimes you want to speak privately to one other chatters. This can be because you want to tell them something others shouldn't hear or it can be a way to speak to another chatter during open forum or guest speaker chat without disrupting the room.

The simplest way to initiate a private message is to double-click on the other chatter's name in the userlist on the right hand side of the screen. If you using iChat or Java, a new window will pop-up for the private chat. If you are using JavaLite or HTML, the private messaging will appear right in your main window, but will be in a different colored text to allow you to pick out those messages that are only appearing on your screen and the screen of the other person.

There is also a line command for making a private message
/tell username message - it's probably more complex than you'll want to use, especially since spelling some of the more unique usernames can be challenging. But this form would send a private message only to that chatter. A private message to me, using this form could be typed like this:
/tell janfields Can you explain to me how to use the emote functions?
And only I will see the message.

Anything else I might want to know?

The slash / in chat allows you to do a number of things. That slash / when it is the first thing typed on a line alerts the chat program that you are about to give a command TO the chat (instead of simply posting a regular remark to the room.) In order to use the slash, it must be the first thing typed in the line and must be immediately followed with the command (no extra spaces). These potential commands are

/ask -- Asks a question in open forum or guest speaker chats. The question is sent to the moderator ONLY …others won't see your question until the moderator loads it to be answered. It's also a quick way to send a private message to the moderator.

/tell - sends a private message to a specific chatter. The format for this command is
/tell username message
You must spell the username correctly or the private message won't work.

/exit - this lets you leave chat completely.

/go - this allows you to move between rooms. The go commands for the two present ICL rooms are
/go Auditorium
/go Room1
Capital letters on the room names are essential for this command to work.

/goto - if you want to jump into the room where a particular chatter is, you can simply use this command followed by the chatters username - spelling counts!

/emote - This is a fun way to add a little spice to your friendly chats. When you use this command, the screen will replace "/emote" with your username when the message posts and anything you type after "/emote" will appear on the screen after your name in a bright color. Thus if I were to type:
/emote giggles like crazy

Chatters sometimes become confused about what's acceptable during Open Forum and Guest chats -- so I thought I would share some guidelines for what I, as moderator, like to see. Since I exist in both rooms during all open forums ...it's not really bad to ask questions or make very relevant remarks right in the chat room where you are. It just means there is every chance I will overlook it since I am ... technically...trying to do two things at once. The only really *bad* thing to do is to chit-chat about off-topic things (which new users do simply because they don't know any better...and someone usually tells them nicely, so if someone sends you a private message about chit-chat, they mean it in the nicest possible way).

But if anyone makes a remark that they CLEARLY are hoping I will see...sometimes someone will remind them that the odds are better if they make it just to me. So...for example, suppose this is what the chat conversation looks like...

JanFields: Industry wide, editors report that only about 2% of submissions are actually publishable by their house and within that two percent, there are still more books than the house can actually print. So, even if your book is publishable and a good match to that house -- you still have to be one of the ones that slips into the available gap.

CHATTER1: Wow, that sounds depressing.

CHATTER2: I dunno, it means getting rejected doesn't mean you're bad.

CHATTER3: Do you know if the percentages are higher in closed houses? Once an agent is involved, does that improve percentages?

CHATTER4: Hey, Chatter1, it's good to see you. How did the conference go?

Now Chatter1 and 2 are probably okay. They are adding on-topic remarks but things that don't really need to be in the transcript. They help the chat feel spontaneous as it happens. That sort of very short remark isn't really a problem because it's on-topic and brief.

But Chatter3 has a problem. I might not see the question. Plus, even if I SEE it...I can't cut and paste from that chatroom and into the transcript so I have to take the time to retype the question before I can answer it. This slows EVERYTHING down. So, that person's question (which is good and relevant) might get overlooked, even though it would have made the chat better.

In the above example, Chatter4 is the only one really "breaking the rules" since off-topic comments really don't belong in forum and guest speaker chats. If you want to speak specifically to one person whom you haven't seen online for a while, or have something important to say, just the "private message" function to send your private comments or wait until after the scheduled event for casual off-topic chit-chat.

So...for my "style:"

Small on-topic comments like "that's funny" or "wow" or "I didn't know that" or "that makes me feel better" are fine right in the room. If you send them by the /ask command or via your "ask a question" button, they don't come in to me quick enough to post. So those kinds of things need to either be said in the room or no one sees it.

Off-topic comments or questions need to be held until after chat or sent as private messages or sent directly to me. If it's off-topic of what's coming in from me via the chat right then...then I would rather it didn't go into the room. It makes it hard for viewers to follow the flow of the chat when off-topic questions or comments are made into the room.

On-topic questions will be more successful if they are sent to me via the /ask function because then they get into the transcript. If the question is really short and IF I see it...I may retype it and answer it...or I may try to answer in a way that reveals the question's likely contents. But anyway you look at it, putting it directly into the room is not the best way.

There can be grey areas and sometimes some of the chatters get overzealous in trying to help people do things right...but overall those three guidelines work best for me. And finally, there is one rule that is in effect in open forum, guest speaker nights, AND casual chats between friends -- always be kind.

If you need assistance after reading this article, please contact us: Chat Help Desk