The great thing about IRC is that you can control the environment of your chat experience. It can be open to the public, or accessible only to those you invite. You can enter an exclusive channel by invitation, or by using a password. For most IRC applications, you can set the modes below to customise your channel modes by one of two methods:right-button or double clicking will usually reveal a channel properties window, which - as an operater - you can check off what settings you want your channel to take on, including topic, mode, and banlist.
Use the following command syntax to manually set these:
/mode [#channel] [+/- type] Naturally, [+value] applies the setting, and [-value] removes the setting.
- +n
- Nobody can /msg outside a channel. That means a sociopath cannot flood the channel unless he or she is onchannel and being flooded along with you.
- +t
- Operators set the topic. Ops usually prefer to hold the reigns of their channel topic, as it usually covers the channel's format or current mood.
- +p or +s
- Sets the channel Private or Secret respectively. The channel will not show up on network lists, nor will it appear on a /who command regardless whether members are otherwise visible. On checking /whois on a person allegedly on a secret channel, that channel will not appear among the list of channels that person may be presently on (exception is if you're on that same secret channel, then it'll show up for you).
- +m
- On a Moderated channel, you cannot speak aloud on the channel unless you are an Op or set +v. Likewise, you can only hear people set thus. You CAN message others though. This is often used for press conferences and the like.
- +k
- You must know the password (or "key") in order to enter the channel. For a channel set to Mode "+k", the command to join becomes /join #[channelname] [password].
- +i
- Invite Only. If someone is expecting you on their +i channel, you will see a line to the effect of "[nick] invites you to #[channel]" appear either in your status or active window.
- +L [number]
- A limit has been set. Many game-related channels might do this to avoid too many prospective players from joining at one time.
Yep! We saved the best for last! Mode +b. It bars a person or people from entering. Many people don't know how to make a decent ban; a troublemaker can change nicks or username info, or even part of their ISP address. +b = The Dreaded Ban!
OK so what do you do with info changing all the time on Identifying info? Well, you do full domain bans. That means if you try to come on to a channel and someone from your ISP has been a persistent problem, odds are you're not going to get in.
If you have a regular chatter who shares a provider with a known troublemaker, you can work around this: let the ban down long enough to let the individual pass, set him or her +v, then restore the ban. In this manner, your friend may remain onchannel AND be heard, while the proverbial wolves are successfully held at bay.
- /topic [#channel] [phrase]
- Setting the topic. This will appear on the screen of anyone who joins, on a network listing (if the channel is not set +s or +p), and along the top of channel windows of most IRC applications.
Contents © D. DAVID