• Chat Window

Location:

The chat window is found in the bottom right of the interface as you run the software.

The Basics:

Once you have located the Chat Window in the User Interface, you have found the single most valuable tool in OpenRPG. Since most RPGs are played via words and not actions, this area will become vital to your ultimate gaming pleasure. Once you connect to a game server, the messages sent and received through the client will appear in this area. Messages can be in many forms and colors, which we will discuss later.

For now, use the text entry box at the very bottom to send your comments to the audience. To use this area simply click within the box to make it the active source for your keyboard. This is no different then clicking in a text document to add words in the middle of the paper. Once the box is active, you may type your comments. To send comments to the audience use the Enter key on your keyboard. Notice that you can only send one line at a time to the Chat Window, but it's length doesn't matter.

Once you have mastered simple comments through the Chat Window you may find that you want to do more. Buttons to insert HTML for Italics, Bold, Underline, and Text Color are provided sandwiched on a bar between the chat window and the text entry box. Simply press the corresponding button and the text you have entered in the dialog box will be wrapped in the appropriate HTML code.

Since we have brought up HTML code in the Chat Window, this is a good time to discuss the more advanced functions of the tool. The Chat Window functions in much the same way as a web page does. Many HTML commands that are used for web page development can also be used in the Chat Window. People who are familiar with HTML may want to try some common commands as they may enhance their experience with OpenRPG. For those who are not familiar with HTML, there are several online help guides that you can access by searching through your favorite search engine.

• Find HTML guides by using your favorite search engine. Search using key words like: HTML help guide design web

Advancing Beyond the Basics:

When you first open the program a help listing will appear in the Chat Window. This listing contains a list of useful chat commands. Each chat command is started with a "/" and then followed by some designation for the software. These commands can be listed at any time by sending "/help" to the chat buffer. The commands are there to make the game more enjoyable for you and to speed up access to certain functions and settings in OpenRPG.

As with many chat programs, you may want to review something you had typed a while back. Since the chat buffer only retains so many lines of information for the screen, the scroll bar on the right hand side may not go back far enough. This is where the notebook button comes in handy. This button opens a node with the raw chat buffer code. This code is the entire buffer since you started OpenRPG. The feature has been equipped with a search function, as well as a script to remove the HTML code so that it is easier to read.

Some people love to save their game logs. While there is a command to log the file directly, many people enjoy the button shortcut in the Chat Window. The disk icon in the lower right corner of the Chat Window will save the entire chat buffer to a .html or .htm file for you to use later. Just like any good file dialog box, this button will allow you to browse your computer and save the file where you want to, and not just autosave it to the disk in a predetermined spot.

We have mentioned the chat buffer several times now, and it is important to realize that the chat buffer uses a good portion of memory on your computer. Therefore, it is important for you to control your buffer size so that you lag as little as possible. You can do this by changing the "buffersize" setting in the Settings menu. There is also a chat command "/lines [number]" which will assign this setting for you. Of course, remember to change [number] to the actual number of lines you would like your buffer to contain. Most people suggest a 100 to 200 line buffer setting, but realize the higher you set the number, the more likely lag will occur.

The Chat Window is also where a majority of the dice rolling and alias commands occur. However, we have dedicated special sections of this document just for those, as they take on a huge part of many RPGs.

• The Chat Window works like an other chat program you have used. There are buttons and configuration that match things like AIM, ICQ, and MSN.