How to use screen and irssi on compsoc1 (or dodo)

For latest docs see http://www.carina.org.uk/screenirssi.shtml.

Using screen means that you can get at your irssi session from almost anywhere so long as you can ssh in to compsoc1 or dodo (with off-campus access) - this means you will usually be on campus - and as such is a very useful tool.

To get started, ssh into compsoc1 (at compsoc1.kent.ac.uk) or dodo (dodo.kent.ac.uk). You do this by using putty in a Windows environment (free and easily downloadable; search for "putty" in Google [the fields for putty are fairly self explanatory]) or a terminal in a *nix system (command for this is "ssh login@server-name-here.kent.ac.uk"). Having done this and inputted user name and password you should have a prompt where you can type things in. Here you want to type "screen irssi" and you should then get a black screen with a blue line at teh very top and a blue line near the bottom. To connect to a server you then type "/connect <server>"...for example, to get at the internal UKC irc network it's "/connect irc.compsoc.kent.ac.uk". You can use this command to connect to multiple servers and then use ctrl and x to switch between servers in your status window (usually window 1).

At this point you shoudl now be connected to an irc server. To join a channel you simply type in "/j #<channel name>", for example, "/j #cs" will connect you to the channel #cs. /join #channel works just as well. To change your nickname use the command "/nick <nick>".

To change between your channel windows and status window pressing the alt and the number of the window you want to change to will move you to it. For example, if #cs is in window 2, pressing alt and the number 2 will get you to it. For numbers greater than 10 (alt and 0) you can use the letter keys. q represtents 11, w is 12 and so on. The escape key and the number window you want will also work, and in some *nix environments will actually work better than alt. This is especially true if you are using X via exceed. So you can see when people are talking to you "/hilight <nick>" will light up a number (in pink - a white number on the status bar just shows that someone is talking) on the lower blue bar so you can see when people want you attention and the person's nick will be yellow so you can see who spoke to you. Another useful command is "/away <message>" This command means that when you're afk (away from keyboard) you can leave a message. This message will be visible to anyone pming you or /whois-ing you. To cancel the command simply type "/away". When you have done this anything someone said to you or your nick while you were away will show up in your status window.

To Message someone in private use the command "/msg <nick> <message>". For example "/msg Trapper hi" will private message me with the word "hi". "/query <nick>" will open a pm (private message) with a person but not send a message - you can type that in seperately. This is useful if you have something to say and you want to avoid the chance that something will accidentally end up in a public channel. To close a channel or message window the command "/wc" is useful. If you're after a slightly cleaner way to leave a channel then /part will also work. To disconnect from a server you will want "/disconnect" and to end irssi completely "/exit" will work.

When you're ready to leave irssi for a while you can detach the screen. This means that your functions running in screen will continue to run but you don't have to look at them. To do this simply press Ctrl and A, then D (denoted ^A d). To kill the terminal completely then press ^D (ctrl and D). If you want to get back at your detached screen simply log back into raptor or your *nix host, and type "screen -r" at the command prompt. "screen -x" works just as well and in some ways is even better as it allows you to continue a screen session that may still be attached somewhere. "screen -r -d" is also very useful for reattaching screens attached elsewhere. It detatches the screen wherever it may still be attached and reattaches your screen at the same time.

A Copy of My IRSSI config

I have put a copy of my irssi config onto this site (http://www.carina.org.uk/irssiconfig) for those who want it to use it. It will require some tweaking to make it work for you as you need to change the server names, hilights and channel names (to suggest just a few of the changes), but it works and its there if anyone wants it. To make it work just copy paste it into a file called "config". When you have finished doing what you want to it move it to your .irssi directory ("/mv config .irssi"). Make sure it is as you want it before you move it because this will overwrite your previous config. Feedback is always welcome: irssi@carina.org.uk

Some Commands I Have Found To Be Useful

/rmreconns Means that if a server is not responding, you can stop irssi trying to connect to it.

/script load [pathtoscriptandscriptname] Loads a script, suc h as nickcolor.pl which customises your irssi session. To run scripts from star tup without worrying about loading it each time you will need to make an autorun directory in your .irssi directory. To do this make a "scripts" directory in your .irssi directory (this will show up with a ls -la) and within the "scripts" directory make an "autorun" directory. Place scripts you want to run automatically in there.

Note - on compsoc1 you can type /run <scriptname> - all the irssi.org scripts are installed on compsoc1.

/ignore ##channelname ALL -PUBLIC -ACTIONS Allows the user to ignore all joins, parts , quits etc.

/window move [windownumber] or /wm [windownumber] Allows you to reposition a window while irssi is running. For example, if you have a channel window at position 5 and you want it at position 2 then change to the channel window and type /window move 2. If you have default aliases set up in irssi then /wm should work just as well.

/topic [space][tab] This autocompletes the channel topic

For more information on IRSSI, please see the IRSSI website (http://www.irssi.org). F0rked (http://f0rked.com/core/irssi) also has a useful guide that is worth looking at.