A Introduction to IRC

Commands
A Quick Reference of IRC Commands.
Justin Kelly
2/28/2009

This document was created to provide readers with a quick sense of what of how Commands are used
and what are the basic commands they can use.
How to use IRC Commands
IRC Commands are inputted into the chat
input line. This is illustrated by the red
arrow on the right. Alternatively you can
type commands into the server window
which looks similar to the window on the
right, but has no people listed on the
right. It loads with the start of your IRC.
You use this window as your connection
to the server. From this point you input
commands to go to channels using the
‘/join #ROOM’ command.

All core IRC commands are prefaced with

/ and are followed by the command then
a space and then any other requirements.
IRC commands are not visible when
executed; only their results are shown.

Example:

/me My Action Chat

You can also access a few commands like Info and Query by right clicking on a user in the channel
member bar. Depending on your IRC client you may have scripts installed that gives you more features.
Note: It is generally frowned upon to openly use scripts in a public IRC channel.

IRC is a fun but sometimes dangerous place – Please DO NOT accept neither dcc/chats nor dcc/gets
(types of private chats) from anyone that you are not familiar with. This will open a direct
communication line between you and your communicator’s computers and put you at security risk and
potentially viral/hijacking problems.
A reference of common IRC commands
/me /me my_action_chat

/me is used to do action chat. It useful to give an inside

look into your mind. It is often used to let people know
about status changes, like going AFK.

/join /join #+‘Channel_Name’

/join is used to create a new channel or join one if a

channel already exists with the name you chose.

/msg /msg username message

/msg starts a private chat with the username inputted in

the command line. This is useful when information that
only concerns two people needs to be shared.

/query /query username message

/query is much like msg but on submission it creates a

new private chat window rather than just sending a
message. This is useful if you would like to carry on a
lengthy conversation or make it easier to track your
message with that user in a busy IRC channel.
/nick /nick new_username

/nick is used to change your nickname/username that is

viewable in the channel. This is very useful to update
your status – examples are when you are away, sleeping,
eating or in game.

Because IRC is not persistent new joiners to an IRC

server cannot tell you status – so updating you
username to reflect your status is good etiquette.
However do not make nicknames long or offensive – It
generally acceptable to keep you username total length
no greater than 13 characters.

/part /part #channel (optional)message

/part is used to depart a channel. You can optionally

attach a message to your departure. This will close your
chat window as well. To alternately close the chat
window you may also click the Red X on the top
right of the chat window.

/quit /quit (optional)message

/quit is used to depart an IRC network. It will disconnect

you from all channels. You can optionally attach a
message to your departure.

/ignore / ignore username (optional)1..8

/ignore is used to stop communication from a user from

reaching you. To unignore use /ignore -r username
prev_num . To clear the ignore list type /ignore –r

You may use the numbers 1 to 8 to change how the

ignore is written. A number of 3 is sufficient in dealing
with most abusive users. Bewared with some numbers
you may unintentionally block large groups of potential
 people from chatting with you. Be sure you understand
what the ignore message tells you.

/clear /clear

/clear is used to flush a IRC window of all text. Useful if

someone spams or you departed for a few movements
and want to get rid of the old messages from when you
where not there.

/help /help topic

Pending you installed the help files and depending on

your IRC client you can type /help to view the available
help topics. After that you can type /help with a topic
title to view more about that aspect of IRC.

/notice /notice [username or channel] message

A notice is identical to a /msg and is used to send a

private message to person or a channel. Some internet
clients handle a /notice command differently than a
/msg.

It is considered poor internet etiquette to use notice

when a /msg will do. Channel notices are especially
offensive. They should be reserved for only the most
important announcements or announcements that
require the prompt attention of a user. Notices will
make a visual message in all users active channels,
because of this notices are quickly disabled or labeled
as spam. For the average user, you will never need to
use notices.
A refrence of basic ChanServ
commands
!users !users

!users are used to show the list of registered users of a

channel. The user list displays the access levels, the
base account name and when the user was last seen.

A note that about the last seen: Last seen works on

authenticated users and will be incorrect if the user has
joined IRC not authenticated, because it does not work
on usernames they might be sitting in the channel
you’re in. !users can also be considered as a list of
levels of trusted people.

!help !help

!help triggers ChanServ to message you in the channel

you typed the command in. It returns you a basic help
menu which you can query with /help topic_title to get
more information.

Using private messages / when to use private messages

A general rule of the internet states “If it doesn’t affect the other person, they don’t care”. Private
conversations between two people are a common case when this rule applies. When something just
affects you and another person a private message is the best route. Depending on the activity and
length of the message you can often get away with making a direct message in the main channel. If you
intend to go this route please make sure to prefix the username you wish to speak to in the message it’s
self.
However if there is an active conversation and this messaged has no effect on the public, then it
considered rude and strongly recommended that you avoid all personal and non public communications
outside of chat. When in doubt please use /msg and /query to carry on a private conversations.

How to make a new channel

To make a new channel you can type /join #ChannelName. If the channel is free you will become the
owner until you leave the channel. If you are success full in finding a empty channel you will notice a @
beside your name. With a little research you can find the IRC-network (that you are on) help channel.
Depending on the network they may register a channel for you so that you will become a permanent
owner, even after you leave.

How to join a new channel: Using clicking and /join

To join a new channel type the /join and command and then the channel name you wish to join. You can
also join channels by clicking/double clicking channel names like ‘#OFP2’ that appear in messages.

How to bold a message

To bold press Control + B to start bold in MIRC you should see a little upside down L. When you are
finished using bold press Control + B again to designate where to stop bolding.

What a G-line is?

A G-line refers to banning a user from an entire IRC-network. Whenever a g-lined person attempts to
connect to the IRC-network they will be disconnected with a message often displaying the ‘reasoning’
behind the ban. Most G-lines are "awarded" to people who, having a K-line (single network host/server
ban) on one server, continue to abuse the network through another. K-line is an abbreviation for "kill
line," and g-line for "global kill line." G-lines are often regarded as an extreme measure, only to be used
in cases of repeated abuse when extensive attempts have been made to reason with the offending user.

(Adapted from Wikipedia)

What a ban means?
Ban is short for Banishment. A Ban means you have been forcefully removed from an area and are no
longer allowed to come back for a certain amount of time. IRC bans can be timed as well as permanent;
Game Server Bans are almost always permanent.

What is a NetSplit?
A NetSplit is when one of the servers (hosts) of the IRC network loses communication or connection with
the other servers in the network. NetSplits are noticeable by streaming text saying “NetSplit”. You
cannot see when a NetSplit will happen is happing – you will only know you are caught in a Netsplit if
you notice that the channel is missing a large amount of people ‘whom just disappeared’. The only way
to correct a NetSplit it to attempt a full reconnect, and hope you get a new host server.

In the case of OFP2’s IRC use the Mibbit client that points to webirc.gamesurge.net as it’s on its own
dedicated web server, this should clear you of any issues. Pending the servers are not going down
network wide.

!k
!k is a command used by operators (@) to kick someone from a channel.

!kb
!kb is a command used by operators (@) to kick and ban someone from a channel.

!up
!up is a command used by people with a user status to bring them self’s up to their appointed level.

!down
!down is a command used by people with a user status to remove themselves their appointed level
temporality.

What is an Operator, Voice and Peon?

An operator denoted by a @ symbol in front of their name is a administrator/moderator for the IRC chat
channel. For mibbit users this is a Gold Star.

A voice denoted by a + symbol in front of their name is often regarded as an elevated member of the
channel, and a person allowed to speak in a moderated channel. For mibbit users this is a megaphone.

A peon is a noted member of a channel. It incurs no special rights and is often only used as a status
symbol or to allow the user to be ranked on the !users list.

What it means that 'the channel is moderated'?

When a channel is moderated it means only people with +v (voice) and operators can speak in the public
channel. This is often done in Q and A sessions and large events so that there are no disturbances with
spam and messages. If a channel is moderated you are expected to sit and watch. If participation is
requested you are often required to query an operator to be granted temporary voice. The Operator
may choose to speak for you in some settings.
How do I quickly fill in some ones name?
To quickly fill in some ones name start by typing the first few letters of the person’s name. Then press
TAB to complete their name. If you find you get the wrong name try adding more letters. Quick finish
snaps to the closest name to the letters provided, based on the people currently in the channel.

What do I do if I made an error in one of my messages?

If you make a error you should attempt to fix it promptly with the correct message/wording. The key to
fixing a error is to do so quickly as chat is real time, people are going to act and react on the words you
have written. To make a correction: quickly follow up your message with a correction and a * leading or
following the message.

If the reply will take a bit of time, please make a message to notify people not to act on your message -
A message like ‘err’ (short for error) will suffice. You then should quickly seek to correct it. Following this
guideline will greatly help communication and stops people from being offended or confused by
misplaced words.

Faking names and masking identity

Faking your name and masking you aliased identity is generally seen as dishonorable and can lead to
banishment. It is generally presumed that one whom is faking/masking there assumed internet name is
doing so to protect their identity while they commit grievous acts. It also makes it extremely hard for
people to tell who is who, and it is also an abuse of trust when you enter assuming another person’s
username. Impostering another player more often than not, will lead to the removal from an IRC
channel.