View source for Chat

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In Internet terminology, a [[chat]] generally means any discussion carried on by two or more users by typing text in 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'''. This chat is public and includes the chat of all Residents within 20 meters of your [[Avatar]].

==Opening and Closing the Chat Bar==
The [[:Image:Toolbar_Left.JPG|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 [[:Image:Toolbar_Left.JPG|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 Gestures Button (to the right of the Say Button) opens the Gestures Window
*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"

When the Local Chat window is '''activated''', it appears in solid colors. When this is the case, you will be unable to move your Avatar. The up and down arrows will scroll the text in the window, rather that making you walk forward or back. To '''disactivate''' the Local Chat window, click anywhere [[Inworld]]. The Local Chat window will become semi-transparent, and your [[Avatar]] will be able to move again. New Local Chat will still continue to appear in the window.

When the Local Chat window is '''activated''', you can press CTL+A to select the entire chat log for easy copying to a file on your hard disk.

The Local Chat window can be moved or resized. See [[Interface Windows]] for how to do this.

In addition to the chat of other Residents, the Local Chat window records various messages sent to you by the system, such as:
*Teleports that you have made, including the [[SLURL]] of the [[Region]] that you teleported from
*Objects that have you received or declined
*Friends that log on or off
*Messages from '''scripted objects'''

Certain items of information in the chat history are links, and can be used as follows:
*Clicking on the [[SLURL]] of a [[Region]] that you teleported from will teleport you back to that Region
*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:Communicating]]