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Chat Tips & Hints
What to do when the chat room is empty
Fun and useful ways to surf while chatting
Gather your friends or associates for chats
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Float Around While Waiting
getting things done while monitoring the chat room
Do you drop into our chat room only to be disappointed that "nobody's home?" How can you know when someone is there? Here's a way to not waste time sitting in an empty room yet still be there to chat with other folks when they do drop in. Follow these steps:
- Log on to the chat room as usual (enter a nickname plus any optional information, password is not necessary, click on OK, connect)
- Erase the words "Type HERE" in the input section of the screen. Type the command *beep enter on (don't forget the asterisk *). (Be sure the volume on your computer is turned up and that your speakers are on.)
- Click on the FLOAT button in the upper right hand corner of the chat window. This will open the chat window in its own ParaChat floating window separate from your browser.
- Resize and reposition the floating chat window to an out of the way position on your screen. Continue surfing with your browser window. Check email, work on other things while monitoring the chat room.
- When someone enters the chat room you will here an unobtrusive "whoosh" sound (that's what that * beep enter on command does). Simply click back on your floating chat window and do some chatting.
- While surfing or doing other things with your floating chat window in the background, you'll need to check in every 10-15 minutes to keep from being disconnected from chat. Simply type a period or something silly (if the room is empty, no one will know!) to keep the connection live. Or, you can click on your name in the window on the right then click the USER INFO button just above there. A private message will display in the chat window -- but it also serves to keep your chat session active. (when actively engaged in chatting, this isn't necessary)
Note: Low resources or problems with Java may prevent some people from utilizing this feature fully.
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Surf 'n Chat
chatting while surfing the Web
There are other neat ways to use our chat room -- whether you're there all alone or chatting with others. The chat system recognizes URLs (web addresses) entered in the chat window. Here's how to use that feature:
- Type a complete URL (include the http:// portion) just as if you were typing a message to someone.
- Once an URL is entered, the Surf! button (upper right hand side of window) becomes active. Highlight the URL then click on the Surf! button.
- A new browser window will open (if you are using the floating chat window then you can safely shut down the first browser window when the new browser opens -- conserves system resources!) and will load the URL you entered in the chat window.
- To send a fellow chatter surfing (always ask first!) simply highlight the URL, highlight their name in the User window then click on the Surf! button.
- By default the Surf! button takes you to the last URL entered. But you can highlight a previously entered URL in the chat window then click on Surf! to go to that page.
Take advantage of the Surf feature by:
- Sending yourself and a fellow chatter to the same Web page then chat about it while each of you is looking at the page.
- Enter an URL (to your own page or some other page you find interesting) during a chat. Other chat participants can Surf to the page during the chat if they want.
- When other chat participants enter an URL that you want to investigate, use the Surf! to check it out without leaving the chat room.
- Cut and paste a list of URLs to the chat window. Highlight them in turn to surf to those pages without entering each one individually in your browser. Simply return to your chat window each time you're ready to try a new page. (Your Guide does this frequently when sitting alone in a chat room!)
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Among Friends
use our chat room to meet your friends and business associates
The Desktop Publishing chat room is open 24 hours a day. You can use it for informal chats or scheduled meetings.
- Send your friends over any time for an impromptu chat.
- If you belong to a desktop publishing or computer user's group or a mailing list that wants a place to gather sometimes for real time chatting -- come here.
- You can reserve the room and get your chat on our calendar simply by asking. Send me an email with the date and time and the name of the group or subject of the chat. If you'd like to actively invite other non-members, let me know.
- Use the room as a way to chat with an associate or client and show them around a Web site (such as a newly designed site for critique or your online portfolio). Use the Surf! feature described above to interact in real time while viewing the Web site.
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Get Ready, Get Set, Chat!
Log on now or learn more about chatting online
First time chatting? Start here... read the FAQ and How-to instructions
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Been here before? Go right to the Log-on page
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Want to see when a chat event is scheduled? Check our Calendar
Events Schedule
Need more help with chat? The Mining Co. has a GuideSite for that too!
Chatting Online
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Jacci Howard Bear
your About.com Guide to Desktop Publishing
Nick Name: desktoppubADM or jacci in our chat room
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