View source for Chat

In Internet terminology, a [[chat]] generally means any discussion carried on by two or more users via text typed into a chat window.

In [[Second Life]], there are several functions corresponding to the general definition of a chat, which are:
*Local Chat: shows all chat communication emitted by all [[Resident]]s (including yourself) or '''scripted objects'''' within a certain range of your [[Avatar]]
*[[Instant Message]] (IM): a private chat between you and one other [[Resident]]
*'''Friend Conference''': a private chat among a group of friends
*Group Chat (group IM): a private chat among all the members of a [[Group]]

In Second Life, the term "Chat" refers only to the first function, known as '''Local Chat'''.

==Opening and Closing the Chat Bar==
The [[Chat Bar]] lies at bottom-left of the [[User Interface]], just on top of the [[Toolbar]].

To open the Chat Bar (if it is not already open), either:
*Press on the small button at the far left of the [[Toolbar]]
*Or just press Enter on your keyboard

To close the Chat Bar, press again on the small button at the far left of the [[Toolbar]].

==Using the Chat Bar==

The [[Chat Bar]] includes the following elements:
*the Input Box shows the line of text that you are typing and that you will send to [[Local Chat]]
*the Say Button (to the right of the Input Box), when clicked on, sends the text in the Input Box to [[Local Chat]]
*the Local Chat button (to the left of the Input Box) opens the [[Local Chat]] Window, where you can scroll up to view the history of recent conversations

Type what you want to say into the Input Box. To send the message to [[Local Chat]], you can either:
*Press Enter on your keyboard
*Click on the Say button
*Click on the up-arrow to the right of the Say button, and select "Shout" (or simply press Ctrl+Enter)

If you click on the Say button, any [[Resident]] within 20 meters of your [[Avatar]] will see your message.

If you Shout, any [[Resident]] within 96 meters of your [[Avatar]] will see your message.

==Using the Local Chat Window==
To open the Local Chat Window, either:
*Press the Local Chat button (to the left of the Input Box)
*Press the up-arrow in the right side of the Communicate button on the [[Toolbar]], and select "Local Chat"

Clicking on someone's name in chat history will open their [[Profile]] window.

==Special Chat Functions==
When you type chat text into the Input Box, your avatar shows a "typing hands" motion. To type without the "typing hands" motion, start your message with a "/0".

If you begin a message by typing "/me", the text will .appear in Local Chat immediately following your name (without a semi-colon. For example, typing "/me grins" will produce "<your name> grins".

It is also possible to speak on a given channel (other than the default channel of Local Chat). Start your message with "/#", where # is the number of the channel you wish to speak on. To speak on channel 1, for example, type "/1 Hello".

==Whispered Text==
Whispered text has a range of 5 meters. It is used only by objects that are running Resident-created scripts. Scripted vending machines will often use whispered text, so as not to disturb other shoppers.

==See Also==
*[[Instant Message]]

[[Category:Communicate]]