Chat and Messenger Settings

Introduction

Here are some of my chat and messenger settings including QuakeNet network and Windows Ident Server. See also: Chat and Messenger Applications, Email and Usenet Client Settings, Programs, Operating Systems, Software.

IRC: General Tips

Application

The default IRC server for your application is a good choice if you don't have an IRC account. For example, Pidgin: irc.freenode.net. (irchelp.org)

Ident server/daemon

Some IRC applications have identd (ident daemon) built in, like mIRC, PIRCH or Ircle. For some IRC applications you need to install an Ident server application. (irchelp.org)

IRC servers: open

In Finland try irc.cc.tut.fi if your ISP has no IRC server.

IRC servers: closed

Companies, schools and organizations don't usually allow outsiders to connect to their IRC servers.

/msg nickserv register <password> (wordpress.com, libregeek.org)

Join channel

/join #channel (ircbeginner.com)

Adium 1.5 (OS X 10.8)

General

[x] Log messages

[x] Show [5] recent messages in new chats

[x] Log OTR-secured chats

[x] Create new chats in tabs

Messages

Regular Chats

Message Style: [Mockie]

Variant: [Brown - Icon Left]

[x] Show user icons

[x] Show header

Text Display: Lucida Grande 11

[x] Show received message fonts

[x] Show received message colors

Status

[x] Set idle after [10] minutes of inactivity

[x] When Fast User Switching is activated, set: [Away]

[x] When Screen Saver is activated, set: [Away]

File Transfer

Receiving files: [x] Automatically accept files and images...

[x] only from contacts on my Contact List

Save files to: [Downloads]

[ ] Open "Safe" files after receiving

Progress: [x] Show the File Transfer window automatically

Advanced

Address Book

[ ] Import my contacts' names from the Address Book (I don't use Mac's Address Book to save contacts)

[ ] Use Address Book images as contacts' icons

Confirmations

[x] Confirm before quitting Adium

(*) Only when...

[x] File transfers are in progress

Contact List

[x] Flash names with unviewed messages

[x] Animate changes

[x] Show window shadow

[x] Show contact information tooltips

[x] While Adium is in the background

Messages

Regular Chats

[x] Use custom name format: [User Name (Alias)]

[x] Time stamp format: [1:23:45]

[x] Minimum font size: [9]

[x] Show unread message count in tabs

[x] Always show tab bar

Status

iTunes Status Format (my own custom format)

I'm listening to [Title] by [Artist] on iTunes.

AIM 7.5 (Windows 7)

Settings

General IM

[x] Display timestamps on IMs

[x] Keep IM conversation text after IM is closed

[x] Flash the window when IM messages are received

IM Logs

[x] Log my IM conversations

[x] Log my Chat conversations

When I sign in, display the following

(*) None

[ ] Start AIM when Windows starts

[x] Automatically download and install upgrade when AIM starts

ChatZilla (Mozilla Firefox plugin)

Mozilla Firefox, Tools, Add-ons, Extensions, ChatZilla

Description: your name

Nickname: your IRC nick

Connect to an IRC server

/attach irc.cc.tut.fi

Or: go to Google, search for irc.cc.tut.fi, go to www.tut.fi/irc/ and click the "Irc.cc.tut.fi" link on that page

Join a channel

IRC, Join Channel...

Or: /join #[channel name]

Finch (Debian 7: Terminal)

Keyboard Shortcuts

Meta-p: previous window

Meta-n: next window

Meta-c: close window

Meta-a: configure Finch

Google Talk 1 (Windows 7)

Settings

General

[ ] Start automatically when starting Windows

[x] Hide Google address book contacts not on my Google Talk Friends List

Chat

(*) Save chat history in my Gmail account

Appearance

Chat Theme: [Ping Pong Picture]

Growl 1.2 (OS X 10.8)

Description: Growl is a global notification system where applications can use Growl to display small notifications about events.

Problem: according to ZyXEL there were over 100 open NAT sessions, so I decided to try disabling some of the apps using Growl, because open NAT sessions consume modem's memory.

Problem: regarding open NAT sessions, Google Chrome and Safari seem to be a much bigger culprit. Closing a browser doesn't immediately change the situation (5/2013).

System Preferences

Growl

Applications

[x] Adium

[x] Growl

[x] GrowlMenu

[ ] Miro (I don't use this much)

[x] Opera

Configure

Notifications

[x] Extensions

[x] Network Speed

[x] New Mail

[x] Popup Blocked

[x] Transfer Complete

[x] Update

[x] Widget Notification

[x] SeaMonkey

Configure

Notifications

[x] General Notification

[x] New Mail

[ ] Skype (no longer installed on Mac)

Configure

Notifications

[x] Contact Is Typing

[x] Contact Request Received

[x] Contact Signed In

[x] Contact Signed Out

[x] Spotify

[ ] TextWrangler (I don't need any of the online features)

[ ] Xtorrent (no possible network listening when not in use)

Network

[x] Listen for incoming notifications

ICQ 7.5 (Windows 7)

Settings

File transfer

[x] Automatically accept files from my contacts

History

[x] Save history

[ ] Show ICQ Xtras (ICQ Zones or Games) when ICQ starts

[ ] Open on Windows start-up

Privacy

Who can view my contacts?

(*) No one

Pidgin 2: general settings

Plugins

[x] ExtPlacement

[x] History

[x] Message Notification

[x] Message Timestamp Formats

Force timestamp format: [24 hour time]

Conversations: [Always]

Message Logs: [Always]

[x] Send Button

[x] Voice/Video Settings

Pidgin 2: Google Talk

Basic

Protocol: XMPP

Username: tomi.hasa

Domain: gmail.com (don't add @ character)

[x] New mail notifications

Advanced

Connection security: [Require encryption]

Connect port: 5222

Proxy type: [No Proxy]

Pidgin 2: IRC

Accounts -> Manage Accounts -> Protocol -> IRC -> Modify

- Protocol: IRC

- Username: tomihasa

- Server:

- irc.[ISP].com (until 2012 or so)

- irc.clinet.fi (tested on 6/2014, doesn't work for me using Windows 7)

- Local alias: tomihasa

- Port: 6667

- Encodings: UTF-8

- Username: [me]

- Real name: [me]

- Proxy type: No Proxy

Pidgin 2: QuakeNet

Accounts -> Manage Accounts -> Protocol -> IRC -> Modify

- Protocol: IRC

- Server: fi.quakenet.org

- Port, Encodings: [same as for IRC]

Windows Ident Server 2 by Rndware (Windows 7)

Control, Options, General

Standard username reply

tomihasa

[Variable list]

? = Random character (a-z)

+ = Random character (A-Z)

% = Random character (0-9)

* = Random character (a-z,A-Z,0-9)

$user = Currently logged on Windows user

!user = Currently logged on Windows user with spaces and special characters removed

OS reply

WINDOWS

[ ] Minimize on start

[x] Minimize to tray

[ ] Switch to Active on start

QuakeNet: General Info

Begin QuakeNet session

/msg Q@CServe.quakenet.org AUTH [account] [password]

/mode [account] +x

/msg Q whoami

Request a QuakeNet account

/msg Q HELLO [email] [email]

OLDER VERSIONS (ARCHIVE)

Windows Messenger 4.7 (Windows XP)

Note: the version that comes with Windows XP.

Tools

Options

Personal

My .NET Messenger Service Display Name:

Preferences

General

[ ] Run Windows Messenger when Windows starts (annoying)

[ ] Allow Windows Messenger to run in the background

[x] Show me as "away" when I'm inactive for [5] minutes

Alerts

[ ] Display alerts when contacts come online

[x] Display alerts when an instant message is received

[x] Block alerts and set status to "Busy" when running full-screen programs

[ ] Play sound when contacts sign in or send a message

Last modified: June 15th, 2014

Author: Tomi Häsä (tomi.hasa@gmail.com)

URL: http://sites.google.com/site/tomihasa/chat-messenger-settings